Leeds Could Land Their Own Gakpo In £12m “Surprise”

Leeds United will little question nonetheless be reeling following their return to the Championship on the finish of final season, with a quite turbulent 2022/23 marketing campaign having led to relegation after simply three years again within the prime flight.

That being mentioned, the membership will now be hoping for a brighter future underneath their potential new homeowners – with the 49ers Enterprises having agreed a deal final month – whereas a brand new face within the dugout additionally seems to be on the horizon, amid rampant hypothesis that Daniel Farke is likely to be named because the everlasting supervisor at Elland Highway.

If and when the one-time Norwich Metropolis boss is handed the reins, the German will possible be in want of reinforcements to be able to assist oversee a push for promotion, with intrigue constructing as to simply who will likely be welcomed by way of the door over the approaching weeks forward of the beginning of subsequent time period.

There was hypothesis of late that Leeds are interested in a move for Swansea Metropolis marksman Joel Piroe, with the Yorkshire outfit having previously been linked with the 23-year-old – who has only a yr left on his existing deal – final summer time.

The membership are, nonetheless, possible to face competition from fellow relegated facet Leicester Metropolis within the bid to signal the Dutchman, with the Each day Mail reporting that the 6 foot 1 ace may very well be accessible for a fee of around £12m.

Ought to Leeds signal Joel Piroe?

The previous Netherlands U20 worldwide has warranted that curiosity in his signature after having fun with a standout 2022/23 marketing campaign within the second tier, having scored 20 goals and provided two assists in 45 video games in all competitions.

The one-time Sparta Rotterdam loanee had beforehand recorded 30 goal involvements for his present facet the yr prior, making certain he boasts a decent haul of 44 goals and eight assists in simply 92 video games throughout his time on the Liberty Stadium.

As talent scout Jacek Kulig said, the spectacular marksman has confirmed one thing of a “shock” following that stellar sizzling streak, having beforehand been “undesirable” at former membership PSV Eindhoven, the place he made simply 14 first-team appearances.

As Kulig also noted, Piroe was a part of a “very attention-grabbing era of PSV academy gamers born in 99” alongside the likes of his compatriot, Cody Gakpo, with the latter man having additionally beforehand been a goal for Leeds a yr in the past.

Experiences final summer time indicated that Gakpo had even agreed a move to Elland Highway just for the Eredivisie outfit to rebuff an strategy from the Whites, with the towering ahead subsequently occurring to affix Liverpool on a £35m deal in January.

Since then, Piroe’s ex-teammate has rapidly impressed at Anfield after bagging seven goals in just 21 league games within the second half of final season, having thrived by way of the center and on the flanks for Jurgen Klopp’s facet.

Like his fellow Dutchman, the Swansea ace additionally possesses the ability to feature in a quantity 9 berth or on the flanks if required, providing a helpful inventive drive in that central position having averaged 2.40 progressive passes per 90 throughout the final one year, with Gakpo solely simply forward having averaged 3.28 in that regard.

That ought to point out that the signing of the “medical” menace – as hailed by ex-Swansea boss Russell Martin – might show to be Leeds’ reply to Gakpo if a deal is to come back to fruition, with the membership having frustratingly missed out on the Reds ace previous to his transfer to Merseyside.