Football League icon Sammy Parkin has told the What The EFL podcast that new Leeds United ace Joel Piroe would have thrown Southampton into a “different stratosphere” – but is a brilliant recruit for Leeds.
Piroe, 24, has already made his impact at Elland Road – playing just three times but scoring three goals. One of our four away at Ipswich and then a brace on Sunday, in a 3-0 win over Millwall at The Den.
Leeds looks as though they are now looking to the future after a tumultuous summer and Piroe is going to be the attacking spearhead – along with Georginio Rutter, who netted his second in the win at Millwall.
But, it could have been very different. Wales Online say Everton, Forest, Leicester and Southampton all wanted Piroe – as did European sides Atalanta, Dortmund, Freiburg and Augsburg. He chose Leeds.
Parkin – who enjoyed a career in the Football League, finding most of his success while at Swindon Town and has now embarked on a punditry career – says Piroe would have taken Southampton to promotion.
“His two touches for the first goal, ah, beautiful,” Parkin said. “Him and Rutter are going to have a great partnership. Touch and then the finish, when you’re moving like that, signs of a top-quality marksman.
“He’s very good. I thought, immediately, he’d have thrown Southampton into a different stratosphere had he gone there, but he is a brilliant signing,” Parkin continued, when discussing Leeds signing Piroe.
Parkin: Leeds ace Piroe would have taken Southampton up
What a signing he has been for Leeds. Joe Rodon and Ethan Ampadu have been wonderful, while Sam Byram on a free has been excellent. Glen Kamara, Ilia Gruev, Karl Darlow, Djed Spence; good signings.
But Piroe looks like the kind of player with a bit of top-tier quality. The man that holds the key in knitting the attack together and pushing it towards promotion. Something we have lacked, in Piroe, for a while.
Southampton’s loss, then.
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