Leeds United took a big gamble in the summer transfer window. But most would say it was justified after the season they had.
Last year; the Whites were promoted to the Premier League for the first time since 2023. Many tipped them to be relegated, with some saying Daniel Farke was not good enough.
The club and Farke proved everyone wrong with a very strong second half of the season to finish in 14th place. A big part of last year was the club adding key pieces like Anton Stach and Dominic Calvert-Lewin.
So the ownership decided to go all in during the summer window.
They signed Harry Wilson as a free agent ahead of other Premier League sides, and landed James Trafford on a record fee. Tarik Muharemovic was signed for over £30million and has impressed this season.
Leeds kept the manager and the core of their team while adding key pieces.
34-goal Leeds man has played his last game for the Whites
Joel Piroe. Credit: IMAGO
But the bigger part of their gamble was what they did on the other side of the transfer window. Leeds spent a lot on new signings but they also got rid of a lot of players.
The Whites offloaded huge contracts like Jack Harrison and Max Wober. They got rid of unwanted players like Joe Gelhardt and Isaac Schmidt.
Players who had a big part in the team last season were also let go. Sebastiaan Bornauw, Lucas Perri, Wilfried Gnonto and Joel Piroe left on loan.
These loans all have contractual obligations with none of them being guaranteed. Bornauw, Perri, Gnonto and Piroe will most likely end up back at Elland Road next year.
Piroe had a decent start to life with West Ham, scoring three goals in his first six league games. Many Hammers fans thought the club had landed a bargain but things have gone left for the Leeds loanee; it has been seven games without a goal.
The striker has also made just two starts in that period.
With West Ham currently in eighth place, the loan deal is in jeopardy. The club are only obliged to sign him permanently if they win promotion, and that is looking unlikely.
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Joel Piroe might still remain with West Ham
Despite the Hammers being poor and Piroe not being a starter, it could change at the end of the season.
Even if West Ham are not promoted, the club could keep Piroe due to his experience in the championship – 51 goals in his last three seasons in the league is impressive.
And if Piroe does manage to score a few more goals between now and the summer, some clubs will definitely be sniffing around him.
It is unlikely that Joel Piroe remains a Leeds player next year.
