LEEDS UNITED GO ALL-OUT IN £25M TRANSFER WAR AFTER ROBBIE KEANE’S EXPLOSIVE DEMAND: “SIGN THIS STRIKER OR REGRET IT FOREVER!”
A new striker will be high on the agenda for Leeds United this summer after winning promotion back to the Premier League – but one option is considered too expensive by The Whites.
Daniel Farke has three strikers to choose from at Leeds. Joel Piroe won the Championship golden boot in 2024-25, but his record of 19 goals is hardly breathtaking. Piroe is renowned for going missing at times.
The Dutchman has never played in the Premier League. Patrick Bamford has, but his injury record and failure to score a single goal last season does mean his future is unclear – his contract ends in 2026.
Mateo Joseph could also leave with Betis set to make a bid in the coming days, having had a £10m offer rejected in January. So, Leeds need a striker – one they can rely on to score in the Premier League.
Plenty have been linked with Leeds including current Premier League strikers Beto, Jamie Vardy and Evan Ferguson. But Leeds have made their stance known on another striker, currently playing in the Eredivisie.
Leeds respond when told how much to pay for Troy Parrott
Troy Parrott has enjoyed a wonderful season in the Netherlands after completing a permanent move to AZ Alkmaar last summer. He’s played 46 games, scoring 20 goals and laying on five assists this season.
That includes four goals and two assists in 12 Europa League matches. Leeds are considering Parrott, but a report from De Telegraaf this weekend suggests that interest in a deal may have cooled somewhat.
Alkmaar are requesting a club-record sale of £25m according to the report. Leeds have responded by informing AZ that it is simply too much to pay for the 28-time Ireland ace, and want to do a deal for less.
What Robbie Keane has said about Leeds target Troy Parrott
There is no doubt that there is a talent in Parrott. Experienced at 23 – Parrott is only five appearances short of playing 200 games at club level for Spurs, AZ, Excelsior, Ipswich, Millwall, MK Dons and Preston.
He has played in the Premier League, but only twice – though he does have 28 caps for his country. Given the Irish and Spurs connection, many have hoped he could be a new version of Leeds icon Robbie Keane.
Indeed, Keane has described him as a “clever” striker and while not the quickest, can anticipate things in and around the box. Perhaps there is a deal to be done if Leeds can convince AZ to reduce their price tag.
When Leeds United suffered defeat to Southampton in the play-off final, it saw four key players sold to Premier League and Ligue 1 clubs and now, Sheffield United are in the same boat.
Archie Gray has become a Europa League winner since his move to Tottenham, which saw Leeds rake in £40m. Georginio Rutter cost the same, after Brighton initially had £29m and £35m bids turned down.
Crysencio Summerville cost West Ham an initial £25m, but that could rise to £34m if £9m in add-ons are met. Glen Kamara’s move to Rennes has flopped, with Kamara going on loan to Saudi side Al-Shabab.
Leeds were forced to cash in and lose some of their best players to remain afloat and it will now be the same for Wilder and Sheffield United – with Leeds likely to be lurking ahead of the summer window.
Chris Wilder discusses future of Sheffield United’s star players
Not many saw Sheffield United losing to Sunderland and certainly not, when Tyrese Campbell opened the scoring. Late goals from Eliezer Mayenda and Tom Watson secured a 2-1 win for Sunderland at Wembley.
It means the likes of Michael Cooper, Gustavo Hamer, Rhian Brewster, Vini Souza and plenty of other star players in red and white could now look for a move. Wilder talked summer exits with the Sheffield Star.
“As you can imagine, I’ve not thought about futures – personally, or from a player point of view – being an hour and a half after an incredibly low point of everybody’s careers, really,” Wilder said after the defeat.
“The players will be incredibly hurting, the supporters will be, the coaching staff will be. But it is what it is, and we’re going to have to deal with it,” Wilder continued, ahead of what will now be a difficult summer.
Which Sheffield United players could Leeds United now consider?
The obvious one is Hamer. Leeds made a £13m bid for Hamer last summer, which was rejected. Sheffield United then tried to claim Leeds had included Joel Piroe in a bid, but it was simply to unsettle the striker.
Leeds still need a better no.10 than Brenden Aaronson and the Championship Player of the Season will fit the bill at Elland Road. Elsewhere, Leeds also need a goalkeeper and Cooper has been absolutely superb.
Junior Firpo is set to leave and Harrison Burrows was picked ahead of him in the Championship Team of the Season, while Souza might be the midfield toughness Leeds require in the Premier League next term.
