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Leeds United: Failing to sign Cameron Archer a blessing in disguise after Joel Piroe swoop
Cameron Archer has revealed he opted for a move to Sheffield United amid strong links with Leeds United as he “had that feeling” about the Blades.
Leeds were linked with the 21-year-old in the summer once it became clear that his future would lie away from Aston Villa.
However, it was Yorkshire rivals Sheffield United who won the race for his signature in a deal worth a reported £18.5million [AFP, 27 August].
That is a staggering sum of money for a player who had played just 10 matches at Premier League level.
Explaining his decision to move to Bramall Lane, Archer is quoted by Yorkshire Live [15 September] as saying: “You just have that feeling when a club is interested. I had that feeling about Sheffield United.”
It is fair to assume Leeds were never going to spend the amount Sheffield United did on Archer, although that stance may have changed had Willy Gnonto got his £30m move to Everton.
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As it turns out, though, Leeds pulled off a big coup in landing Joel Piroe from Swansea City for far less than Archer went for, with reports at the time suggesting it was for a fee in the region of £12m [Daily Mail, 24 August].
Had they put all their eggs in one basket with Archer, a deal for Piroe – who was also being touted with some top-tier teams – surely would not have happened late in the window.
Archer has undoubted quality and is already off the mark with his first Sheffield United goal in the Premier League.
But Piroe is proven at Championship level, having hit 22 and 19 goals respectively in the past two campaigns for Swansea City.
The Dutchman has one goal in two appearances for Leeds, meanwhile, and there is no reason he cannot match those previous figures.
Leeds may not have given Archer “that feeling”, but they will not lose any sleep knowing that they have a player better suited to them in Piroe.
In other Leeds United news, an unnamed agent was left baffled by one transfer in particular at Elland Road this summer.