Leeds United’s two summer priority signings revealed by insider
Leeds United must aim high in the transfer market if they’re to find upgrades on the likes of Joel Piroe and Illan Meslier.
Speaking on the latest edition of Football Insider’s Inside Track podcast, former Leeds goalkeeper Paul Robinson made clear that a new centre-forward and goalkeeper are needed at Elland Road this summer.
Daniel Farke‘s side plundered 100 points, have scored 95 goals and conceded just 30 on their way to the Championship title this term, but Leeds are under no illusions that top-class signings will be necessary.
Everton striker Beto has been heavily linked with a switch to Elland Road, but Robinson, who won the first of his 41 England caps during his time in West Yorkshire, told Football Insider that Leeds need better.
Joel Piroe‘s 19 goals saw him end the season as the Championship’s Golden Boot winner, and Robinson argued that if Leeds are to sign a new number nine and number one, they need to reach for the stars.
Football Insider revealed last month that Leeds don’t see Piroe or Patrick Bamford as good enough to start in the Premier League, but Beto’s mere 11 Premier League goals don’t represent a massive upgrade.
Piroe improvement needed in Leeds striker chase
Football Insider sources have said that Leeds see six members of Farke’s current squad are seen as ready-made Premier League starters, one of whom is soon-to-depart Tottenham loanee Manor Solomon.
None of the players on that list are strikers or goalkeepers, and speaking on the new Inside Track, Robinson said Leeds can’t afford to repeat the mistakes of this season’s promoted sides in the transfer market.
“Joel Piroe scored 19 league goals in the Championship last year and he got something like six assists as well – Beto scored eight goals“, Robinson told Football Insider.
| Player | League | Appearances | Starts | Goals | Assists | Yellow Cards |
| Joel Piroe | Championship | 46 | 36 | 19 | 7 | 2 |
| Beto | Premier League | 28 | 13 | 8 | 0 | 2 |
“I’d much rather start the season with Joel Piroe If you had those two options – Joel Piroe or Beto?
“[For] the money that Beto would take, the wages out of the team – he’s not an upgrade on what you’ve got.
“If you’re coming up to the Premier League – we’ve seen with Ipswich, Southampton and Leicester this season – you’ve got to buy better than what you’ve already got, and you’ve got to buy Premier League-proven quality.
“He’s not a proven goalscorer in the Premier League – they do need a number nine, a number nine and a goalkeeper.”
Aggressive transfer approach required at Elland Road
Signing at least two Premier League-proven strikers to upgrade on Piroe will be a tall order for Leeds this summer, and the 49ers must flex their financial muscle if Farke’s side are to survive the Premier League.
Football Insider have also revealed a major setback in Leeds’ attempts to buy Solomon from Tottenham on a permanent basis, and that will also leave the left flank as a position which will need further attention.
The 49ers plan to back Farke with well over £100million to spend in the summer window, and with Leeds’ squad in need of widespread improvement if they’re to stay up, a busy few months of transfer business are on the horizon.