The January transfer window has been open for almost two weeks and Leeds United are yet to add a member to Daniel Farke’s first team squad.
Los Blancos have lost just one of their last seven Premier League matches, putting them out of the bottom three, and that form may have eased the need for urgent signings.
However, the West Yorkshire side still need to be mindful of the market as teams around them in the table will be looking to bolster their squads to avoid relegation to the Championship.
While new signings could come through the door at Elland Road before the end of the window, there could also be players leaving the club, and one of them could be Joel Piroe.
Why Leeds should sell Joel Piroe
Speaking earlier this week, the Dutchman, who has made himself available for the Suriname national team, said a move was not being considered at the moment, but he did not completely rule out such a move.
The 49ers and Farke should consider parting ways with the left-footed forward as he has not made the step up to the Premier League very effectively this season.
Piroe was one of the promotion’s winning stars who didn’t seem suited to the promotion last summer, as he lost 73% of his championship duels, according to Sofascore, and didn’t seem ready for the physicality of the elite.
This has proven to be the case so far. According to Sofascore, the striker has lost 85% of his duels in the Premier League, including 91% of his duels on the ground, and is yet to score a goal or assist in ten matches.
Due to his lack of physicality and impact in the final third, Leeds should look to sign a replacement for Piroe so he can finish his career at Elland Road this month.
The Leeds striker should replace Piroe with
With Noah Okafor, Dominic Calvert-Lewin and Lukas Nmecha already on the team, signing another forward could allow the 49ers to finally sell the former Swansea sharpshooter, as he would be even more surplus to requirements than he already is.
It was recently reported that Leeds United are eyeing Roma centre-forward Artem Dovbyk as a potential signing, either on loan or on a permanent deal, with £21 million required for the latter.
The Ukraine international, described as a “presence” “similar to (Erling) Haaland” by former Premier League striker Mario Balotelli, has started just three league matches this season and could be an opportunistic signing for the Whites.
Dovbyk, despite only starting three games, has scored three goals in 2.35 xG in Serie A for Roma, according to Sofascore, showing that he has been an effective finisher despite his lack of playing time.
The left-footed star has also won 46% of his duels, including 65% of his aerial duels, in 13 total appearances in the Italian top flight, according to Sofascore. He is a physical number nine who can win shots and compete with strong central defenders every week, unlike Piroe.
This suggests he would be better suited to the situation Leeds currently find themselves in as he has the physicality and quality to play a big part in a relegation fight, with every game a fight for points.
Dovbyk isn’t just a physical striker who doesn’t just win duels, as his last two full seasons suggest he can also be a prolific scorer at his best.
|
Artem Dovbyk |
23/24 (Liga) |
24/25 (Series A) |
|---|---|---|
|
Appearances |
36 |
32 |
|
Goals |
24 |
12 |
|
Minutes per goal |
109 |
203 |
|
Big chances created |
10 |
5 |
|
Aids |
8 |
2 |
|
Aerial duel success rate |
50% |
42% |
|
Statistics via Sofascore |
||
As you can see in the table above, the 28-year-old number nine has scored 36 goals in La Liga and Serie A in the two seasons preceding the current campaign, in addition to ten assists.
Piroe, meanwhile, is yet to score a goal in a major European league, as he has not scored in the Premier League this season, and has not proven he can score goals on a regular basis at the highest level.
Therefore, the 49ers could make a huge upgrade for Piroe by signing Dovbyk to take his place on the team during the January transfer window.
This would allow the club to sanction an exit for the former Swansea striker, as they would then have Dovbyk, Calvert-Lewin, Nmecha, Okafor and possibly Brenden Aaronson between him and a starting place, meaning this signing could end his career at Elland Road.
Better signing than Disasi: £11m star wants to join Farke at Leeds
Leeds United could move in to land this £11million target, who are keen on a move to Elland Road.
