While the goals may have dried up for Joel Piroe in recent times, Leeds United are living proof of the value that can be found in the Dutch market.
Because, while admittedly former PSV Eindhoven youngster Piroe arrived at Elland Road via a prolific spell at Swansea City, Crysencio Summerville and Pascal Struijk proved to be inspired additions while Luis Sinisterra earned Leeds United £20 million even after an injury-interrupted spell in West Yorkshire.
Daniel Farke’s side leapfrogged title rivals Burnley and Sheffield United as Dan James snaffled an early winner against Middlesbrough on Tuesday night.
Leeds, meanwhile, are not the only title chasing side benefitting from the presence of a former rising star of Dutch football.
Scott Parker’s Burnley contain the mercurial former Fortuna Sittard talisman Zian Flemming. Plus, a Sheffield United outfit who’s driving force from midfield – Gustavo Hamer – rose through the ranks at Feyenoord before blossoming at PEC Zwolle.
Valentijn Driessen, an expert of all things Eredivisie, still argues that PSV were still correct in their decision to sell Joel Piroe after just 11 league appearances however.
Eredivisie export thinks Leeds United’s Joel Piroe unlikely to make PSV return
The former Netherlands Under-20 international joined Swansea for a bargain £2 million before moving on to Leeds for a fee five times that amount a couple of years later.
And while Piroe feels he has ‘unfinished business’ at PSV Eindhoven, Driessen currently sees no real reason why the reigning Eredivisie champions should consider handing the academy graduate a second stab at the Philips Stadium.
“You can bring [Piroe, Flemming and Hamer] back to the Eredivisie. But, apart from Feyenoord, Ajax and PSV, no club pays the salaries that are paid there,” Driessen explains on the De Telegraaf’s Kick Off podcast.
“In terms of sporting challenge, they could go to the Netherlands. But I don’t know if these guys will make it at Ajax, PSV, Feyenoord. They actually all come from those clubs.
“Hamer was at Feyenoord. Piroe came from PSV. Flemming from Ajax. I don’t think those clubs made a mistake by letting those guys go. They’re now three or four years further on, and they’re still in the Championship – not the Premier League.”
Piroe open to PSV Eindhoven return but keen on Premier League challenge first
That could change, of course, for all three of those Eredivisie exports should Leeds, Sheffield United and Burnley all seal returns to the top-flight of English football.
Leeds can take a major step towards promotion against Preston on Saturday. Sheffield United travel to Plymouth Argyle looking to arrest a run of two straight defeats. Burnley, meanwhile, can go into the weekend top of the table with Scott Parker’s side hosting Norwich City on Friday night.
Piroe, meanwhile, is keen to sample the delights of Premier League football before embarking upon his Eindhoven homecoming.
“I had a very nice time there [at PSV],” Piroe said last month. “When I think about it, it feels like unfinished business. But, at the moment, I am completely focused on reaching the Premier League and I want to experience that first.”
With 15 from 31 Championship starts, Leeds’ number ten is still in with a shot at the Golden Boot. Piroe is currently on a run of seven games without a goal, however, with his most recent strike coming late on in February’s 3-1 victory over Sheffield United.
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