Leeds United will have to get creative to not only sign players to improve the squad but also to move on a few players who are not part of Daniel Farke’s plans.
The Whites are having to operate within the Premier League’s new Squad Cost Ratio regulations, which could significantly limit their spending power during the summer transfer window.
Leeds need player sales this summer to ensure they can properly improve the squad in areas of the squad that need strengthening and upgrading.
However, Leeds may now have an opportunity to get smart and propose a swap deal that would not only see them sign a long-term target, but also offload a forward they want to sell.
Leeds United should offer Joel Piroe to Southampton as part of a deal for Shea Charles
Leeds have had a long-term interest in the 22-year-old Southampton midfielder, and the club are now considering making an offer for the Northern Ireland international.
Southampton are open to selling him for a deal around £20m in the ongoing summer transfer window.
Leeds are interested in the midfielder who is prepared to take the next step up and play in the Premier League next season. However, they can work out a more creative deal.
As Elland Back on MOT Forum has suggested, the Whites could bring the cash outflow on the deal by offering Joel Piroe to Southampton in the ongoing window as part of a swap with Charles.
Southampton will be desperate to get promoted next season after getting booted out of the playoff final following the embarrassing Spygate scandal.
Saints need a goalscorer to power their promotion hopes, and while Piroe struggled in the Premier League, he is a proven commodity in the Championship.
A swap deal works for both clubs – Leeds get a player they have been keeping tabs on for a while, and Southampton get a proven goalscorer.
Southampton need the Leeds striker
The Saints have had a long-term interest in Joel Piroe since Russell Martin was in charge of the club, and he scored 19 goals in Leeds’ promotion-winning campaign in the 2024/25 season.
Proven goal scorers are a rare commodity, even at the Championship level, and several Championship clubs have their eyes on the Suriname forward this summer.
Signing the Leeds forward may be the difference between Southampton getting to the playoffs and earning automatic promotion next season
The timing could not get any better for Leeds, who have a chance to use Piroe as a makeweight in a deal to sign Shear Charles from Southampton.
Leeds rate the forward at around £12m to £15m, and they could land the Saints star by offering the striker and another £5m this summer.
