Joel Piroe will be delighted as Leeds line up £30m transfer
Joel Piroe was one of Leeds’ standout performers during their sprint to the Championship title last season.
The Dutchman struck 19 goals and seven assists in the league, which saw him continue his exceptional record in the second tier from the last few seasons.
However, Piroe’s position has come under speculation at Leeds this summer, given his lack of top-flight experience.
Daniel Farke will know that he needs more reinforcements if the Whites are to consolidate their spot in the Premier League, and adding to the attack has been a major priority.
Piroe could benefit as Leeds eye Dovbyk deal
Leeds have now fixed their sights on signing Artem Dovbyk from Roma, as they bid to bolster their options at the top of the pitch.
The Ukrainian hit 17 goals during his first season in the Italian capital last term, having also been prolific for Girona in 2023/24.
Despite his goalscoring record, Roma are not ruling out the possibility of allowing the 28-year-old to leave this summer, and have set a price tag of £30million on him, amid interest from Elland Road.
Ordinarily, strikers would not be pleased to potentially see another player coming in who also plays in their position; however, on this occasion it could be a pivotal moment for Piroe.
If the Whites could get a deal for Dovbyk over the line, it would go a long way towards easing some of the pressure that would otherwise have been mounting on the Leeds star.
| Stat | Piroe | Dovbyk |
| Apps | 46 | 32 |
| Goals (per 90) | 0.56 | 0.45 |
| Assists (per 90) | 0.2 | 0.07 |
| Shots on Target % | 38.6% | 41% |
| Shot Creating Actions (per 90) | 2.43 | 1.94 |
| Aerial Duels Won % | 21.4% | 41.2% |
That would allow him to take some time to acclimatise himself to the Premier League if needs be, and also opens the door for Farke to be able to start games with two strikers if he sees fit.
Dovbyk is a player who is extremely good with his back to goal, and if the German did opt to play both frontmen alongside each other, it could supply Piroe with the perfect partner to hit the ground running in the top flight.
Piroe has versatility on his side
Piroe has been a hugely important player for Leeds over the last few seasons, and he is surely extremely unlikely to lose his place altogether.
Even if Dovbyk did come in and immediately become Farke’s first-choice to lead the line, the former PSV Eindhoven man has the advantage of being versatile.
- Leeds want to add Dovbyk to their attacking options
- Dovbyk’s combative style could create plenty of chances for Piroe
- Farke could play the pair as a partnership, or Piroe could drop into a number 10 role
Leeds are yet to add to their number 10 position this summer, despite the ongoing frustrations regarding Brenden Aaronson’s performances.
Piroe could even drop back into a slightly withdrawn role if needed, which would still allow him to feed off Dovbyk’s presence in the final third.
The Dutchman is an impressive talent, and while he may not have the proven track record as some of the other Premier League strikers, if he gets off to a good start then he could be very dangerous indeed.
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