Revealed: This is when Joel Piroe will leave Leeds after rejecting Leicester offer
Joel Piroe is expected to explore a move away from Leeds United in the summer if he continues to struggle for game time in the latter stages of the season.
Piroe has struggled for opportunities at Leeds this season despite firing them to the Premier League last term as he won the Championship golden boot with 19 league goals.
The 26-year-old has not started a Premier League match since late August, with no goal contributions in 11 league appearances so far this season.
Reports emerged in January claiming that Celtic were targeting a move for Piroe, but their approach was shrugged off due to Leeds’ shared ownership with arch-rivals Rangers.
Piroe turned down the chance to join Leicester City in the recent window, but as I revealed on the latest edition of Football Insider’s Transfer Insider podcast, he could look to leave Elland Road in the summer.
Piroe to explore Leeds exit in the summer depending on PL game time
Dominic Calvert-Lewin has been in fine form up front for Leeds, with nine goals from 20 league appearances as he won December’s Premier League Player of the Month award.
His impressive showings, along with Lukas Nmecha and Noah Okafor’s presence in Farke’s squad, have limited Piroe’s minutes, and he is set to look for a move away ahead of next season if he continues to be overlooked in attack.
Speaking on the Transfer Insider podcast, I explained: “It would make sense for him to assess his options in the summer. There was interest in January from a number of clubs, but he decided to reject that interest and stay at Leeds and fight for his place.
“He’ll be hoping that he does get an opportunity between now and the end of the season, but he is third or fourth choice at Elland Road right now, so as long as the likes of Calvert-Lewin, Nmecha and Okafor all stay fit, he is not going to get many minutes between now and the end of the season.
“You would think if that’s the case, it’s something that Piroe will have to look at in the summer and maybe have to look elsewhere if he wants to be playing regularly.“
Illan Meslier could leave Leeds before Piroe amid Farke snub
Piroe’s teammate, Meslier, has failed to make one appearance for the Whites so far this season after he was dropped by Farke towards the end of their promotion-winning campaign.
He failed to seal a January exit from Elland Road, but reports have arisen over the last week that Besiktas are lining up a deal for Meslier before their Friday transfer deadline.
Sources have told Football Insider that Meslier could leave Leeds imminently as the Turkish giants aim to get a deal over the line.
Piroe is not set to leave the club so soon, but he could well follow the Frenchman out of Elland Road in a few months if he is unable to force his way into Farke’s plans.