Joel Piroe’s tumble down the pecking order at Elland Road has left many questioning if the striker could be allowed to leave Leeds United in the January transfer window, with sources rating those chances and explaining what is next for the Dutch striker.
The 26-year-old was the Championship’s top scorer last season, netting 19 goals across the campaign as Daniel Farke’s side stormed to promotion with a 100-point tally. The Dutchman – an initial £10.9m signing from Swansea in summer 2023- now has a tally of 33 goals in 98 appearances for Leeds United.
Promotion to the Premier League triggered a £2m payment to the Welsh side, taking his total cost to £12.9m.
While described as a “world-class finisher” and the best he has ever worked with recently by Farke, Piroe’s minutes for Leeds this season have been dramatically reduced off the back of the club’s summer recruitment drive.
And with 11-times capped England striker Dominic Calvert-Lewin now established as first-choice for the Whites, and with another summer recruit, Lukas Nmecha, the preferred back-up option, Piroe now finds himself third choice in the Leeds pecking order.
As a result, speculation has suggested that Piroe could look to force through a move away from Elland Road in the January window if his situation does not improve and with the player having been restricted to just three appearances – and 147 minutes – of Premier League action so far.
Despite that, we understand Leeds have no desire to part company with Piroe in the January window and expect the player to be needed over the course of the campaign.
