Gustavo Hamer emerged as a top transfer target for Leeds United in the last fortnight of the transfer window but the Brazil-born playmaker has remained at Sheffield United.
Leeds were keen to bring in a no.10 at Elland Road before the end of the window but ultimately failed in what was largely an underwhelming, frustrating summer that saw the club’s best players sold for profit.
Release clauses from a previous regime continued to haunt The 49ers and Daniel Farke, with Crysencio Summerville, Archie Gray and Georginio Rutter all seeing their exit clauses activated by top-tier clubs.
Hamer was targeted as a replacement for Rutter in the no.10 role. Leeds initially made a £13m bid to land Hamer, before reports claimed Leeds returned with a second offer for him of cash plus Joel Piroe.
Pope shares what he has heard about reports of Piroe swap bid
It came as a surprise, given that Leeds had only signed Piroe from Swansea the season prior. The Dutch star has had his criticism, struggling to live up to the £16m price tag and failing to impress as a no.10.
Graham Smyth quickly reported following the claims that Leeds had included Piroe in a bid, that those at Leeds were denying such an offer. Now, Pope told Give Me Sport that Sheffield United made it all up.
Indeed, Pope says that Sheffield United attempted to retaliate after, in their view, trying to unsettle Hamer by unsettling a Leeds player in Piroe. Pope says Sheffield United attempted to “disrupt” Leeds’ no.10.
“There’s a lot of dispute over Joel Piroe. If I’m being honest, it’s my opinion, that’s not true, from what I’ve been told. It was more done as a retaliation to disrupt. So I’m not, I’m not buying that,” Pope told GMS.
Sheffield United left with egg on their face in Piroe move
In an attempt to try and disrupt Piroe, Sheffield United have not only shown that clearly, Leeds’ bid did do what it was intended to do and unsettle Hamer. But, any attempt to get to Leeds star Piroe didn’t work.
That was proven when the Dutch star came off the bench on Saturday and coolly finished when put in on goal by Junior Firpo. His first goal of the season, silencing doubters and leaving the Blades feeling silly.
Leeds failed to get a no.10 in however and it is likely to be an area that the club continues to monitor over the next six months ahead of the January window, with interest in Hamer likely to be retained.
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