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£16m Leeds United star must get the message after latest Daniel Farke snub: View
Leeds United continued their pre-season preparations in Ireland, drawing 1-1 with rivals Manchester United before suffering defeat in the resulting penalty shootout.
The Whites now have just one friendly remaining before the new campaign, with Bundesliga outfit Augsburg set to visit Elland Road on Saturday.
As expected, Daniel Farke has been rotating his squad and sharing minutes across the group. However, one player has been noticeably overlooked throughout the process.
With the transfer window entering its final stages, it feels increasingly obvious that Joel Piroe no longer has a future at Leeds United.
Joel Piroe frozen out in recent friendlies
Piroe was an unused substitute against both Manchester United and RB Leipzig. Instead, Dominic Calvert-Lewin and Lukas Nmecha were preferred, further underlining the Dutchman’s status as Leeds’ third-choice striker.
While both Piroe and Willy Gnonto have been linked with summer exits, the difference is that Gnonto has still been given opportunities to impress. Piroe, meanwhile, has effectively been sidelined.
Farke openly admitted after the Leipzig clash that his priority was getting minutes into Nmecha and Calvert-Lewin, the two forwards most likely to feature prominently this season.
Some supporters may view the treatment of Piroe as harsh, but from Leeds’ perspective, the reasoning is understandable.
The reality is that Piroe appears to be well down the pecking order. If he cannot earn minutes during pre-season, it is difficult to imagine him playing a significant role once Premier League action begins.
Leeds would be far better served cashing in now and reinvesting in a forward better suited to the demands of top-flight football.
Farke should continue his stance against Augsburg
For that reason, Farke should maintain his position and leave Piroe out again against Augsburg.
There is little value in giving him game time when Leeds’ focus should be on ensuring Nmecha and Calvert-Lewin are fully prepared for the opening weeks of the season.
Another omission would send a crystal-clear message: Piroe needs to secure a move before the transfer window closes.
With just one year left on his contract, a summer departure makes sense for all involved. A contract extension appears highly unlikely, and Leeds risk losing him for nothing if they fail to act.
Having reportedly paid an initial £10.5 million for the striker in 2023—potentially rising to £16 million through add-ons—the club will be eager to recover as much of that investment as possible.
From Piroe’s perspective, remaining at Elland Road only to spend another season on the fringes would be a major gamble. Entering next summer as a free agent after limited football would almost certainly reduce both his market value and the quality of offers available to him.
Farke’s latest snub felt less like a tactical decision and more like a final signal that it is time for Piroe to move on. The striker now needs to recognise that reality, while Leeds must work tirelessly to find a buyer before the window shuts.
