Leeds United transfers as potential Championship suitors emerge for striker amid Jorgen Strand Larsen pursuit
Out-of-favour Leeds United striker Joel Piroe is believed to be on the radar of several clubs.
One potential Championship suitor for Leeds United’s Joel Piroe has been named amid reports of a ‘permanent transfer’ bid.
Piroe scored 19 goals on his way to the Championship Golden Boot last season but has struggled for any kind of first-team football following promotion to the Premier League. The Dutch striker started Leeds’ first two matches but hasn’t been in a line-up since, with eight further top-flight appearances all coming from the bench.
The YEP reported earlier this month on known interest in Piroe from the Championship and abroad, although neither the player nor Leeds are believed to be pushing for a January exit. Elland Road chiefs are known to be looking for a new striker, however, which would only push the 26-year-old - already behind four or five teammates - further down the pecking order.
Reports have now surfaced surrounding interest from Championship promotion hopefuls Ipswich Town, who are believed to want a difference-making striker this month. Local outlet the Ipswich Star claim Piroe is on a two-man shortlist for the Tractor Boys alongside Nashville SC frontman Sam Surridge, with an enquiry made to Leeds earlier this month.
Dutch journalist Joost Blaauwhof has also reported via X that Portman Road chiefs have actually tabled a bid for Piroe, but the striker is not keen on a return to the Championship. The YEP understands he is still wanting to prove himself in the Premier League.
It remains to be seen if Ipswich or anyone else will stump up the cash to force a decision at Leeds, but with a new striker wanted Piroe is unlikely to be given a serious run at Premier League football any time soon. The Whites have recently tabled a bid for Wolves’ Jorgen Strand Larsen and remain in talks over a possible January switch.
Leeds United January exit stance amid Joel Piroe transfer interest
Daniel Farke has waved goodbye to teenage striker Harry Gray and out-of-favour winger Jack Harrison this month but regularly insisted he had no plans to force anyone out. Nor has the Whites boss received any inclination one of the current crop wants to leave before Monday’s transfer deadline.
"You have to ask the players not playing that much if they're happy," he said earlier this month. "I have no indication that anyone wants to leave. The spirit and togetherness is outstanding, it's a joy to work with them. You can't build a successful group when you just have 11 players. More or less every player has started or has minutes for us.
“I don't have any motivation to give one member of our group away in January. It's the market and if we can improve by doing a change we should be open to this but all players with us are strongly in my plans. If they're 100 per cent happy if they're not playing - I would assume no. I was only happy playing 90 minutes. I don't want a player thinking I've got a relaxed life. They should all be desperate to be in the squad and the starting XI.
“All the players are in my plans although sometimes I have to choose XI and have to disappoint more or less the same amount. The behaviour is great in the group or we couldn't have been there with such spirited performances in recent games."