Leeds United aren’t the only club being linked to Swansea City striker Joel Piroe this summer. In fact, the Whites are one of a handful of teams supposedly keeping tabs on the Dutchman alongside the likes of Leicester City, Everton, Nottingham Forest and Southampton.
But, if The Athletic report of Leeds’ interest is accurate, it shows the Whites are certainly on the right track in the transfer market as they look to build a squad capable of bouncing back to the Premier League at the first time of asking. Piroe is only 23 and he has limited experience of playing top flight football, but the form he has shown with Swansea City over the last couple of seasons has only served to underline the high level of talent he possesses.
He knows how to find the back of the net in the second tier. The Dutchman bagged 22 goals in his first season with the Swans under Russell Martin as he hit the ground running in South Wales following his switch from PSV Eindhoven in 2021.
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He followed that up with another hot streak in front of goal last time around, notching 19 goals in a team that struggled for consistency for large periods. It was a campaign that saw him become established as one of the brightest prospects outside the Premier League, alongside the likes of Viktor Gyokeres and Iliman Ndiaye, and the level of interest in him comes as no surprise.
Leeds, to their credit, have been on his scent for some time. The Whites saw a bid rebuffed for him on the final day of the last summer window, while they were still a Premier League club.
As such, suggestions that they are one of the club’s chasing him again 12 months on despite losing their top flight status, only serves to showcase 49ers Enterprises’ huge levels of ambition and determination as they look to secure promotion in their first season of full ownership. That takeover still hasn’t been given the green light by the EFL and Leeds won’t be looking to spend until approval comes through and the buyout is completed.
But, despite Piroe entering the final year of his deal with Swansea, he won’t come cheap and there will be hope from the Welsh end that a bidding war could drive up the price. Piroe is exactly the type of player that Leeds need to be looking to sign this summer, though, in order to spearhead their promotion push and it would certainly help bolster an attacking line that looked jaded at times last season.
Leeds would love to see last season’s chief marksman Rodrigo sick around, but they face a battle on their hands there. Patrick Bamford, Joe Gelhardt and Georginio Rutter are the most senior forwards under Rodrigo and all three struggled for large periods last time around.
As such, irrespective of what happens with the Spaniard, Leeds ought to be looking for a new forward this summer and Piroe certainly fits the bill. The same can be said about a number of the players linked by the Athletic on Thursday, actually, but Gustavo Hamer looks a particularly strong signing in the second tier, if Leeds could pull it off.
Another Dutchman, Hamer recorded 10 assists and 11 goals from centre-midfield for Coventry City to help them to the play-off final. His signing, alongside Piroe’s would certainly be a statement of intent.
