Leeds United striker drops Elland Road exit hint in ‘tough’ admission
Daniel Farke has the task of preparing Leeds United for life in the Premier League.
After guiding his side to the Championship title with 100 points, all the focus now is on retaining a place at the top next term.
There are several areas on the pitch where Farke needs to make additions to strengthen his side, but a key one is in the final third.
Although Joel Piroe finished the season as the Championship’s top scorer, the German boss certainly doesn’t have the strength required so far.
Mateo Joseph makes Leeds admission
Earlier in the season, it was a battle between Piroe and Mateo Joseph for the starting spot in Farke’s side.
Piroe took a lead in the race, though, and Joseph ended up making just 11 starts in his 39 league appearances.
In the final six games of the campaign, the 21-year-old had just five minutes of game time, representing how far Joseph fell out of favour.
| Player | Appearances | Goals |
| Joseph | 39 | 3 |
| Piroe | 46 | 19 |
Now, with Farke looking towards a life of survival in the top flight, he is keen to add to his options, with the likes of Callum Wilson and Jamie Vardy linked with moves to Elland Road.
However, this is bad news for the Spaniard, who will fall even further down the pecking order.
Joseph’s contract with Leeds runs until 2028, but it has already been suggested that an exit could be on the cards this summer.
That seems to be what the youngster is looking for, too, as he told Spanish outlet El Mundo (9 June): “I started playing quite a bit and then went from everything to nothing. It was a blow, and that came from last year, which was also very tough.
“It’s important to invest in yourself to get the best out of yourself, and I try to rely on all the tools available to us.”
Joseph to exit Leeds United
Joseph seemingly struggled with becoming a secondary option at Elland Road this season and the 21-year-old will be keen to go and get regular minutes somewhere.
Meanwhile, if the 21-year-old was not convincing for Farke in the second tier, he’s hardly going to see his minutes increase in the top flight.
Therefore, an exit from Elland Road would surely suit all parties in this case.
With the striker being under contract until 2028, the Whites would also have an opportunity to bring in some cash here, which would allow funds for new additions too.
There is no bad blood between the two parties, but surely this relationship is over.