Leeds United: 49ers went over Swansea chief’s head for Joel Piroe, left bitter taste – Phil Hay
Leeds United went over the Swansea sporting director’s head to beat Southampton to the signing of Joel Piroe, according to Phil Hay.
The Athletic journalist reported via the outlet’s website on 14 February, the morning after the Dutchman scored in a 4-0 win against his former side, that the club went direct to the Swans’ American owners to get the deal done.
The new 49ers regime spent £11million on the 24-year-old and left their Championship rivals with a “bitter taste” over losing a star player to another club in the same division.
Hay claimed it would have been even more “galling” for Swansea to see Leeds United putting together a run of wins since the New Year with Piroe on the bench, before he became a last-gasp injury replacement for Patrick Bamford in the starting XI in South Wales and responded with a goal.
49ers took US route as Leeds United beat Southampton to Joel Piroe
It looks like one benefit of being part of the increasing American ownership trend in English football is the ability to go straight to other US owners to win a transfer race.
Piroe’s time at Elland Road has turned out unexpectedly, as he looked like the finisher the Whites needed for months during Bamford’s injury struggles but was instead played regularly as an attacking midfielder by Daniel Farke.
He would likely have been slightly put out to have lost his place to the Englishman when the manager moved Georginio Rutter back from being the furthest forward, but he was still ready to step in and score in his first visit to his former employers.
Southampton’s first defeat in months allowed Leeds United to climb above them into the automatic promotion places on the night, and overall it has certainly been a benefit for the Whites to have Piroe in their ranks rather than the Saints.
A return of 13 goals in all competitions is not to be sniffed at even if he has sometimes been bypassed playing in an advanced midfield role.
Depending on how long Bamford faces out it looks like the door may have opened for Piroe to reprise his starting spot so if he can respond as he did in the heavy defeat of Swansea the absence shouldn’t prove too much of an issue.
In other Leeds United news, Elland Road history has emerged after a Premier League star was slammed for being unprofessional.
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