Leeds United have lacked attacking quality for most parts of the season. Fans predicted this when the club brought in just three attacking signings in the summer window.
The Whites brought in Lukas Nmecha and Dominic Calvert-Lewin on free transfers, while signing Noah Okafor on a permanent deal. But this amount of firepower was not enough. Leeds lost Manor Solomon in the summer; the winger was a huge influence in the team last season. Daniel Farke has also chosen not to rely on last season’s top scorer Joel Piroe.
£16m Leeds United man was horrible against West Ham
The striker has been seriously out of form this year, and looks like a shell of the player he once was. He has been on the bench for most of the season, and has been brought on for cameos and in the FA Cup. Piroe has just one goal this season, which has not really surprised anyone.
In the FA Cup quarterfinal on Sunday, Daniel Farke threw the dice and brought the striker on to change the game. Not only did he have close to zero impact, he needlessly lost the ball when he had it. And worst of all, he missed his penalty in the shootout; fortunately for him Lucas Perri came up with the goods and Leeds United progressed to the FA Cup semi-final. After the game, Graham Smyth described the striker’s performance as ”poor”.
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What do Leeds do with Joel Piroe
It is very unfortunate, but Joel Piroe might be done at Elland Road. His place in the team has been taken by Dominic Calvert-Lewin and Lukas Nmecha, two strikers who have more quality than him. More importantly, the duo offer more when it comes to the demands of the Premier League. Daniel Farke pointed this out when asked why Piroe has not featured much this season. According to the Leeds boss, Piroe’s best attribute is his finishing, but in a league where the club cannot have the ball for most of the game, they need players like Nmecha and Calvert-Lewin who offer more than just scoring ability. Leeds United will do well to get a fee off the striker; he reportedly had interest last summer and even in January. Given his age, and goal record outside this season, some club will be willing to take him for a decent fee.
