Exclusive:152-goal Leeds United legend outlines striker 'frustration' and summer transfer possibility
Former Leeds United striker Jermaine Beckford spoke exclusively to the YEP about the fortunes of another No.9.
Jermaine Beckford has questioned whether Joel Piroe has a place in the Leeds United squad long-term after a ‘frustrating’ campaign.
Piroe scored 19 goals on his way to the 2024/25 Championship Golden Boot and played a major role in Leeds’ 100-point Championship title triumph, but things couldn’t have been more different this season. The Dutchman started two Premier League games in August but hasn’t been in a top-flight XI since, with 11 substitute appearances totalling just 92 minutes.
As the YEP reported at the time, there was interest in Piroe through the January transfer window but neither he nor Leeds were pushing for a transfer. That Elland Road chiefs were willing to spend close to £40million on Jorgen Strand Larsen, however, suggests more physical competition for Dominic Calvert-Lewin and Lukas Nmecha was desired.
That desire will not have disappeared and providing Leeds remain a Premier League team, reinforcements at No.9 will remain a top priority. And for Piroe, who has gone almost 11 months without a goal, that means he will likely become fourth-choice striker at best.
“Piroe had the opportunity to go on loan in January and his stance was ‘I'm staying here, and I'm fighting for my place’. I respect that,” Beckford told the YEP via Gambling.com where users discover top online casinos. “I know he's definitely going to be frustrated. As a centre-forward, you thrive on confidence, on playing games and scoring goals.
“He's not been afforded that opportunity as much as he would have liked, and it would have been for the whole season. That's going to be frustrating for him, especially when there are questions in the media about whether Leeds United need another forward. He is a forward.
“So when those questions are being asked and he's being almost dismissed, you could see him possibly questioning where he sees himself in terms of his career and where he's going to go forward from here. I like JP. I think he's a great guy and a very good football player as well, but I do want to see him playing.”
Beckford on Piroe’s Leeds United role until summer
Regardless of what this summer looks like for Piroe, he will be a Leeds player until at least the end of this season and has kept his place in the matchday squad. That is not a given, either, with on-loan Brighton man Facundo Buonanotte left out despite no injury.
So long as one of Calvert-Lewin or Nmecha remain fit for the rest of the season, Piroe is unlikely to get an opportunity upfront but has shown qualities that could fit the second-striker role. And Beckford believes there could be an opening for the 26-year-old between now and May.
““He's not blessed with blistering pace, he's not incredible in the air but his awareness, technique and ruthlessness in front of goal,” the former Leeds striker added. “That being said, I think with the two boys in front of him, Dominic and Lukas, they offer something completely different. They've got an element of physicality about them as well.
“He needs to try and find a way to shoehorn his way into the team. I don't know how, maybe in the 10 role, but you look at Brenden Aaronson. His decision-making at times can be a bit questionable in the final third, but he's ratting around all the time, and he's got the highest number of turnovers in the final third.
“We turn the ball over in the final third, and we're on the offensive. We're on the attack, and that's what he brings to the team. If Joel Piroe can bring a little bit of that into his game, I don't see why he couldn't be asking the question as to why he can't be a number 10 behind one of the two boys I just mentioned before.”