Joel Piroe has revealed that Leeds United have turned down transfer approaches for him this summer. The striker has since sent a clear message to clubs hoping for a last-gasp deal.
Piroe ended last season as the Championship’s top scorer with 19 goals but could be set to become the second-choice pick following the arrival of free agent Dominic Calvert-Lewin, who was not match ready for Monday’s win over Everton.
In the end, it was the other free forward arrival, Lukas Nmecha - Piroe’s second-half replacement - who grabbed the headlines with his converted penalty kick handing Leeds three crucial points in a deserved 1-0 triumph.
Two days later, Piroe would be named in the PFA Championship team of the year alongside Ao Tanaka, Daniel James, Jayden Bogle and former colleague Junior Firpo. Speaking to reporters after the awards ceremony, Piroe revealed he has attracted transfer interest this window.
Asked about former club PSV Eindhoven, the Dutchman told Voetbal International: “It would be great to return to PSV someday, but not right now. I’m not thinking about leaving, or what’s going on at other clubs.
“All I want is to perform with Leeds in the Premier League. I understand that a few other clubs approached me in the summer. But the club didn’t want to let me go, and I don’t want to leave at all.
“I want to prove myself in this league. Saturday's away game against Arsenal, that’s what I’m looking forward to.”
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Leeds United
With it unlikely that Calvert-Lewin is fit enough to start at the Emirates Stadium, Piroe will be hoping to be in the line up once again.
Despite not scoring, having come close with a fifth-minute close range effort at Jordan Pickford, the 26-year-old is pleased with how his maiden Premier League outing went.
"A goal would have been the icing on the cake for me, but the most important thing is that we started with a win,” he explained. “The atmosphere in the stadium was fantastic; the crowd kept singing.
“We can move on with a good feeling. I'm actually quite satisfied with my own performance. You get frustrated with a few moments. If we had capitalised on those a little better, I might have scored."
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