Leeds United first team striker January sale stance amid Championship and foreign interest

Joel Piroe almost made himself a hero late on against Manchester United on Sunday with his very first touch, but sent a shot curling over the bar. His late substitute cameo was his 10th Premier League appearance of the season, only two of which have been starts. Piroe was in the starting line-up for the opening pair of fixtures but since then has had scant involvement, with just 67 minutes of action since August. The problem for the Dutchman has been the importance and form of Dominic Calvert-Lewin as Leeds' number 9 and Daniel Farke's preference for using Noah Okafor as a second striker or sorts, or pairing Lukas Nmecha with the leading scorer up top.

It is all a far cry from last season when Piroe was the main man in Farke's attack, starting 36 Championship games and coming off the bench in all the others. He scored 19 times to claim the division's Golden Boot and help fire Leeds to promotion. But the summer recruitment and everything that has transpired since, including Calvert-Lewin's eight Premier League goals, has relegated Piroe to the status of a bench option.

And with the January transfer window open, talk is inevitable of potential departures for fringe players who might realise even a small profit. There are second tier sides known to be keeping close tabs on Piroe's situation, which is not surprising given his 73 goals in 179 Championship appearances. Club sources say the player is admired in leagues on foreign shores, too. But while they insist no one at Elland Road is pushing to sell the 26-year-old and believe he wants to try and prove himself at the top level, there is an acceptance that a decision would have to be made between the player and club if offers came in this month.

Piroe was signed from Swansea for a fee of just over £10m in 2023 from Swansea City. Farke has continued to insist on the striker's importance for his squad and trumpeted Piroe's elite finishing ability. And speaking ahead of the draw with Liverpool Farke said he had no desire to see any of his players leave this month.

"Well, I speak with my players each and every day, and we are in close conversations, but I have no plans to give any player away from our group, because we have a tight group anyway, and we wanted also a tight group because I don't believe in working with a group that is too big, because it's never beneficial then for unity and togetherness and spirit," said the German. "I think it's important that everyone is needed, and I definitely need each and every one of these players, like the season has proved. Nearly all of our players have made appearances, and also appearances more or less in the starting lineup. And for that, I believe and back my players, and we need this group. It's more the other way round, so perhaps you can even improve our group a bit more. But so far as no plans, at least not from the players who are really close to the first team group. If there is perhaps a player, a younger player, who is also more or less featuring in the Under 21s then for his development it makes sometimes sense to speak about a loan or whatever. But from our major first team group, there's not one plan to let any player leave."