Joel Piroe wages can be matched as latest Leeds United exit update revealed
Joel Piroe’s future at Leeds has come into question in recent weeks as he continues to struggle for game time under Daniel Farke.
Having scored 19 goals in the Championship last season, the 26-year-old would have thought he could have a starring role for the Whites in the top flight.
Leeds beat Fulham 1-0 at Elland Road on Saturday, and Piroe was an unused substitute again, with Lukas Nmecha coming on instead and scoring the winner in dramatic circumstances.
Leeds have to deal with PSR worries, and selling Piroe could be the perfect solution for them, with several clubs keen to sign him this month.
A host of Championship clubs can pay Joel Piroe’s wages
Piroe was touted as a target for Celtic on Friday as reports emerged that Leeds are interested in Wolves striker Jorgen Strand Larsen.
The Yorkshire Evening Post journalist Graham Smyth reported that even though Celtic can match the Dutchman’s wages, Leeds laughed off their attempt to sign him on loan.
Celtic’s rivals, Rangers, are also owned by the 49ers Enterprises, and there is no chance that Paraag Marathe would allow Piroe to join the Scottish giants.
The idea of him sanctioning the move of a player from Leeds to aid a direct title rival of his other club is incredibly strange.
While Celtic could match Piroe’s wages, the same can be said for several Championship clubs, and it may be increasingly likely that he’ll leave before the deadline on 2 February.
If Marathe and Leeds wanted the 26-year-old off their books until the end of the season, there would be other options open to them among Championship teams who are crying out for a goalscorer.
Joel Piroe’s ceiling is in the Championship
It may feel harsh to say, but it’s clear he has struggled with the added quality of the Premier League.
The former Swansea man started the first two games of the season, but was quickly benched and hasn’t returned to the team since.
In fact, he has played just 203 minutes of Premier League football, and Farke has lost all faith in him to lead the line.
| Stat | Piroe |
| Appearances | 46 |
| Goals | 19 |
| Assists | 7 |
| Shots | 102 |
| Minutes played | 3,090 |
The striker is arguably fifth in the pecking order, with Dominic Calvert-Lewin, Nmecha, Noah Okafor, and Brenden Aaronson all starting up front more recently than him.
He is a proven goalscorer in the second tier, and perhaps he needs to rediscover his confidence on loan before he has the potential to start for Leeds again.
Because, right now, there is no chance that it will happen in LS11.
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