In the summer transfer window, Leeds United failed in an attempt to sign Sheffield United midfielder Gustavo Hamer. During the final week, there were rumours of Joel Piroe being offered in a swap deal to the Blades.
Leeds United had a bid for Gustavo Hamer rejected because Sheffield United felt they were apart in the valuation. The Blades wanted close to £18million, while Leeds only offered around £13million.
Joel Piroe stayed at Elland Road, and even scored for the Whites this weekend. Piroe netted the second goal in a 2-0 win over Hull City on Saturday. The win sent Leeds United into fourth place in the Championship.
Joel Piroe rumour was used as “retaliation”
Sheffield United manager Chris Wilder was unhappy about Leeds’ bid for Gustavo Hamer. The Blades boss also complained about the Whites signing Jayden Bogle earlier in the window.
After the bid for Hamer, reports claimed that Leeds offered Joel Piroe in a swap deal for Hamer. Reports that were rubbished immediately. Now BBC Leeds journalist Adam Pope insists the leak came from Sheffield United as ‘retaliation’ for the failed bid:
“There’s a lot of dispute over Joel Piroe. If I’m being honest, it’s my opinion, that’s not true, from what I’ve been told. It was more done as a retaliation to disrupt. So I’m not, I’m not buying that.” Pope said on his podcast.
Blades boss unhappy with Leeds United business
The Whites’ bid for Gustavo Hamer was met with cold remarks from Wilder, who said the bid was a “million miles off”.
“There have been a couple of bids for players; one was pretty close and another was a million miles off. If and when decisions on players get made by the board then I’ll get notified and we have to have a plan and be ready. It’s a bit of me looking into the future and trying to see who potentially might go.”
Hamer ended up staying at Sheffield United after the deadline. The Blades boss also had an issue with Leeds United signing Jayden Bogle earlier in the window, saying that the whole transfer saga was ‘Mickey Mouse stuff’:
“I think you can look at Jayden as a prime example. As soon as the interest was there, they low-balled us straightaway and he was gone. I have to deal with it, and his team-mates have to deal with it as well. You don’t really talk about that, you talk about someone who doesn’t want to be here.”
Mr Pope needs to grow up and not report on conjecture.