Joel Piroe continues to be seen as a backup option and nothing more at Leeds.
The Dutchman has only made two Premier League starts this season, which came before Lukas Nmecha and Dominic Calvert-Lewin built up enough match fitness to start.
Since the 5-0 defeat at Arsenal, the Leeds No.10 has been exclusively used as a deputy to the pair, which must be an odd feeling given the fact he won the Championship Golden Boot last season with 19 goals to help win the title.
Now, Beren Cross of The Athletic has shared how Joel Piroe is acting behind the scenes at Elland Road as Daniel Farke regularly overlooks him.
Joel Piroe has “at no stage” been difficult at Leeds United as striker bides his time under Daniel Farke
Fortunately, the 26-year-old is not proving to be a nuisance to others at Leeds despite hardly playing any football this season.
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The likes of Joel Piroe and Willy Gnonto are struggling to force their way into Farke's plans.
Cross told The Square Ball podcast: “The noises we’re getting are… it seems like Piroe at no stage has been difficult or has been complaining, or has shown unhappiness with his current situation.
“Yes, he’d want to play more, but the impression is that he’s generally quite philosophical about it and he’s been quite open-minded, and has been sort of quietly confident that (his) time will come.
“With football (it is) swings and roundabouts… he feels that if he does stick around, he will have a little run in the team at some point and will be needed, and will get that priceless Premier League goal for his career.”
Piroe has never scored a Premier League goal in his ten appearances at this level, but is something of a renowned Championship marksman – netting 73 goals in 179 games in the second tier.
Therefore, the man born in Wijchen can either rediscover his status as a talisman by dropping down a division – Leicester, Ipswich and Middlesbrough are understood to be interested – or settle for a role as a Premier League backup.
By the sounds of what Cross revealed, Piroe seems more than happy with the latter gig.
Leeds United need to ask Joel Piroe to leave if a respectable bid arrives
Despite his satisfaction with a backup role, Leeds need to take the decision out of Piroe’s hands if another club makes a bid in the region of £12m or more this month.
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“This summer, we spent everything we could. Unequivocally, we are maxing PSR out this season. If we had gone on to other targets [on deadline day], the consequences would have been seen in the current roster. More key players from last season would have had to go.”
Robbie Evans on Leeds United’s PSR position
Farke has already proven that he doesn’t even view the Dutchman as his third choice, opting to use Noah Okafor centrally when Nmecha was absent for three games recently.
So, with Leeds facing PSR issues after a busy summer of spending, it would make no sense to keep Piroe should a decent offer arrive.
The 49ers can use that cash to bolster other areas such as the centre of defence, where an injury to Joe Rodon and the switch to a 3-5-2 formation has suddenly created more of a need for another central defender.
Leeds want Danilho Doekhi to plug that particular gap, who could cost around £11m due to his contract situation at Union Berlin – the Dutchman becomes a free agent in July.
If no offers arrive, Piroe has of course done enough at Leeds to earn the right to stay, but an eight-figure bid needs to force the 49ers into action.
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