Leeds United signed Joel Piroe from Swansea City in the summer of 2023 and since the Dutchman’s arrival at Elland Road, he has clocked up 17 goals for Daniel Farke’s side.
Perhaps not as much as Leeds might have been hoping by now, but still a solid return for a player that has been in and out of the side since the turn of the year while also largely being used as a no.10.
Right now, Piroe finds himself as second choice behind Mateo Joseph with Patrick Bamford also back and fit after a hamstring injury. But there is no doubt that Piroe is a top striker, currently Leeds’ top scorer.
Daniel Farke described Piroe as the Championship’s best finisher, but it is Joseph’s all-round game that has delighted Farke this season. It could have been very different though, with Leeds eyeing other strikers.
Piroe eventually joined Leeds towards the end of August 2023 from Swansea. Leeds eventually agreed a £16m deal for Piroe, but another target ended up joining Leicester City for just £7.5m last summer.
Leeds wanted to sign Tom Cannon, he scored four goals last night
After an impressive loan at Preston during 2022-23, striker Tom Cannon was in demand. Leeds were among those to show interest in Cannon, but eventually the striker ended up joining Leicester City.
The striker failed to make a big impression at Leicester with injury playing a part, scoring just three goals in 16 games. With the Foxes promoted, he was allowed to leave on loan in the summer and joined Stoke.
It took Cannon until Wednesday night to find the back of the net for Stoke, but he did so in style. Cannon netted four times in Stoke’s 6-1 win over newly-promoted Portsmouth, a side Leeds could only draw with.
Joel Piroe vs Tom Cannon – which was the better signing?
Farke clearly thinks that Piroe is the better player given he said that the Leeds star is the Championship’s best finisher. But directly compared to on-loan Piroe, who boasts the better stats and goals per game?
Piroe vs Cannon – the stats
| Player | Championship appearances | Minutes | Goals | Goal per minutes ratio | Assists |
| Joel Piroe | 141 (Leeds, Swansea) | 10264 | 57 | Goal every 180 minutes | 12 |
| Tom Cannon | 37 (Preston, Leicester, Stoke) | 2400 | 14 | Goal every 171 minutes | 2 |
Pretty close in terms of the stats, then. The variables are obviously, that Piroe has often played as a 10 and over a longer period, the ratio is always going to look worse. Both are working to a goal every two games.
Cannon was cheap at £7.5m, and had he stayed fit he would have scored plenty for Leicester. He might do so for Stoke this season judging by his showing last night. Piroe was the sensible, proven purchase.
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