How much money Joel Piroe earns at Leeds United as Middlesbrough plot big transfer | OneFootball

Middlesbrough are plotting a big January move for Leeds United forward Joel Piroe

Middlesbrough are reportedly interested in bringing in Leeds United's out-of-favour forward Joel Piroe to The Riverside this January to bolster their promotion prospects.

Middlesbrough have automatic promotion set in their sights this season, with Swedish head coach Kim Hellberg stamping his authority on the Boro squad this January with additions of his own.

Attacking-midfielder Leo Castledine, who spent the first half of the season on loan with League One side Huddersfield Town, has signed on a permanent deal, whilst Aston Villa wing-back Finley Munroe looks set to sign for the club permanently after impressing on loan with Swindon Town in the first half of the campaign.

Jeremy Sarmiento also looks set to make the move to Teesside permanently, with Delano Burgzorg on the verge of an exit from the club this winter, with Bristol City interested in the Dutchman, leaving a vacancy up top.

Now, according to TEAMtalk, Boro are interested in bringing in Leeds United forward Joel Piroe to the club this January, with a loan move the most likely option.

Piroe, who recently changed his allegiance to Suriname, has played just over 200 minutes of Premier League football this season and has been rumoured to be a potential exit this winter, with Boro interested in the forward's signature.

How much Joel Piroe earns at Leeds United as Middlesbrough links emerge

Piroe, who ended last season as the Championship's top scorer, has naturally drawn interest from the second tier, with his game time taking a significant hit upon Leeds' promotion.

Boro are the latest club linked with a move for the forward, though whether the club will be able to agree a deal with Leeds remains to be seen, with one factor potentially creating a major stumbling block in any deal.

As per Capology, Piroe earns around £40k-per-week on his current deal at Leeds, meaning any permanent deal is hugely unlikely to happen unless Boro are willing to throw a load of money at it.

A loan switch seems the most likely of options if any deal is to be completed, though Leeds' stance on the matter is not yet clear.

The Whites have been linked with moves for Wolves' Jorgen Strand-Larsen and Roma's Artem Dovbyk recently, and if any deal is completed for another forward, with Dominic Calvert-Lewin and Lukas Nmecha ahead of him in the pecking order, Piroe will likely be deemed surplus to requirements.

His £40k-per-week wage will want to be shifted off Leeds' books in any event of a new striker arrival, and with Boro one of the potential suitors in the second tier, a loan deal remains a real possibility.

Joel Piroe would significantly boost Middlesbrough and Kim Hellberg's promotion bid this January

Across his time with both Swansea City and Leeds, Piroe has consistently proven that he knows where the net is at Championship level.

The 26-year-old has scored 73 goals and grabbed 18 assists in 179 games in the second tier, and for any Championship club, Boro included, he would be an incredible pickup.

Between the four-game period where they were defeated 2-0 away to Bristol City and 1-0 away to Derby County, Boro failed to score a single goal despite having 80 shots across those games, an average of 20 per game.

Creating chances is clearly not an issue for Boro, but finishing them seemingly is, and although they would beat Southampton 4-0 in their most recent league game, a clinical forward could take them to the next level.

How much of Piroe's £40k-per-week wages Boro would be willing and able to pay remains to be seen, but if they can get this deal over the line, it would elevate their promotion hopes substantially.