A priority for new sporting director Adam Underwood will be signing a striker that can fire Leeds United towards Premier League safety, with doubts remaining over Joel Piroe.
There is no doubt that Joel Piroe can finish. Daniel Farke described Piroe as the Championship’s best finisher, but the Dutchman goes missing in games even if he is the Championship’s golden boot winner.
His 19 goals however, is a relatively low total for the second tier’s golden boot compared to previous winners. He scored four goals in the 6-0 win over Stoke but previously, went nine games without a goal.
Patrick Bamford is expected to leave Leeds with the one-time England man the club’s top earner, but failed to score a single goal last season. Real Betis are back in for Mateo Joseph, who is rated at £12.75m.
Jamie Vardy’s agent has been in talks over Leeds United move
Now 38, Jamie Vardy has confirmed he will be leaving Leicester City at the end of his contract. A 13-year spell with The Foxes that includes Vardy winning the Premier League and playing a huge 498 matches.
Vardy is expected to reach 500 before the end of the season, but his agents have already been working hard to find him a new club. Graeme Bailey has told LeedsUnited.News that Leeds have been contacted.
“His people are doing an awful lot of work and Leeds are one of the clubs who have been contacted. But I come back to it, is he better than what you’ve got? He’s not. Don’t see it,” Bailey told LeedsUnited.News.
“He might want to play in the Premier League but I think he will end up in the Championship – I think he will end up back at Sheffield Wednesday,” Bailey continued, predicting Vardy’s next move this summer.
What Simon Grayson said about a move for Jamie Vardy
Leeds have been loosely linked with a move for Vardy this summer, given the club want a proven Premier League goalscorer. One that can find the back of the net in England’s top tier on a regular basis.
Speaking on Sam Allardyce’s No Tippy Tappy Football podcast, Simon Grayson was asked if Leeds should sign Vardy on a free transfer. Grayson suggested Vardy would be a good signing, on a one-year deal.
Leeds will need strikers, but whether Vardy is the answer remains to be seen. Leeds have also been linked with Everton ace Beto, as well as Ireland international Troy Parrott after a 20-goal season at AZ Alkmaar.
