Leeds United manager Daniel Farke seems set on keeping Joel Piroe at Elland Road this month. This move effectively blocks a potential January exit for the Dutch forward. Recent speculation has heavily linked the 26-year-old with a high-profile move to the Scottish Premiership. Both Celtic and Rangers reportedly hold significant interest.
Leeds United Transfer News: Daniel Farke Sets Firm Stance on Joel Piroe Future
However, transfer expert Pete O’Rourke has downplayed the chances of a deal happening before the window shuts. Speaking on the Transfer Insider podcast, O’Rourke noted that Piroe has played a huge part in Leeds’ recent success. He secured the Championship Golden Boot with 19 league goals during the club’s promotion campaign.
Despite this, the Suriname forward has struggled to get regular Premier League minutes this season. Even so, O’Rourke insists that Farke sees the striker as a vital part of his squad setup. O’Rourke added that Leeds United have managed to build a comfortable gap from the relegation zone.
However, Farke is still worried about leaving his attacking options thin. The West Yorkshire club will likely turn down any offers for Piroe unless they bring in new faces. This ensures they have enough cover in case other forwards get injured.
“I still think Piroe is a difficult deal to do. Although he’s not been a regular for Leeds this season, I still think he’s still a key member of Daniel Farke’s side.
“He won’t really want to lose him anytime soon, he’ll want to keep him around.
Obviously Leeds are having a good run of form in the Premier League moving further clear of relegation trouble, but Farke won’t want to weaken his squad in case there are any injuries to any of his other attacking players.
“Unless Leeds are to bring in further attacking reinforcements, I think they’ll be quite reluctant to let Piroe go.”
Why Keeping Piroe is the Smart Move?
Daniel Farke’s decision to stop Joel Piroe from leaving is a deliberate move. This choice puts squad stability ahead of how an individual player might feel. Piroe’s frustration at not playing much is understandable, especially after his prolific contribution to their promotion.
However, the Premier League is unforgiving, and teams need depth. Leeds have done well in the first half of the season to stay away from immediate danger. Yet, the margins in the top flight are still very tight. An injury to a key starter could ruin their momentum completely. Therefore, keeping a proven goalscorer like Piroe on the bench gives Farke a major safety net. Money often cannot buy that kind of security this late in the window.
On top of that, Piroe brings a tactical flexibility that few other targets could match right away. He knows Farke’s system inside out and understands when to press. He has also shown he can score goals in English football. Letting the 26-year-old go to Glasgow now would force Leeds into a panic-buy.
They would have to find a replacement who might need weeks to settle in. Celtic and Rangers offer the draw of European football and a spot in the starting eleven. Still, Leeds must protect their Premier League status above everything else.
Keeping Piroe until at least the summer protects the club against the wear and tear of a long season. It ensures Farke has the tools to change games from the bench when players get tired during the final stretch.
