Joel Piroe has final chance to impress v Southampton as £100m Leeds United update emerges
Joel Piroe could have one final chance to prove himself at Leeds United after it was revealed the club will need to raise £100million if promotion is not secured.
The Dutch forward could feature as the Whites go head-to-head with Southampton in the Championship play-off final on Sunday 26 May, especially with Patrick Bamford ruled out.
With the match often dubbed the “richest game in football”, Leeds have far more than just Premier League promotion resting on the final at Wembley.
According to The Daily Mail [16 May], the club will need to raise upwards of £100million in player sales if they are to lose the play-off final to the Saints on Sunday.
Having arrived at Elland Road on a £10million deal from Swansea City in 2023, as per BBC Sport, Piroe could be one of the first names to leave if promotion is not secured.
Joel Piroe could be sacrificed as Leeds United sales mooted
There is no doubt that the 24-year-old is a talented midfielder, who is capable of deputising as a striker, having notched 46 goals in 96 Swansea appearances before making his move to Yorkshire.
Despite a quick start to life at Elland Road, scoring 13 Championship goals this season, just three of those goals have come in his last 17 appearances and has often been dropped to the bench.
It is easy to understand why Leeds would struggle financially so much if they were unable to claim promotion this season, especially with the number of loan players away from Elland Road this season.
In addition to this, the club are said to owe £190million to other clubs in unpaid transfer fees, which could be detrimental for the Whites next season, especially if they are still in the Championship.
Although Piroe has certainly experienced a dip in form, he has netted twice in his last two starts and will need to impress in the play-off final and fire Leeds to promotion.
Without promotion this season, he could be one of the first names to be sacrificed as the club searches for avenues to raise funds during the summer transfer window.
In other Leeds news, Phil Hay shared details of the bizarre agreement that saw one of the club’s starlets choose Elland Road over joining Manchester City.
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