Joel Piroe’s contract situation at Leeds United - Middlesbrough, Ipswich or Rangers could pounce | OneFootball

Joel Piroe looks destined to leave Leeds in the summer, as this may be the final time they can cash in on him

Joel Piroe looks to be on his way out of Leeds United this coming summer, after the 26-year-old has struggled for game time in the Premier League, following promotion last season.

There's no secret to his goalscoring prowess at Championship level. After all, his 19 goals last season won him the Golden Boot, and marked the third time in four years in the second tier that he'd scored at least that many.

However, this season, the recently declared Surinamese international has started just two top-flight games — the first two of the season — and has been relegated to unused substitute and cameo appearances since.

Leeds were reportedly open to letting him leave in January, with both Middlesbrough and Ipswich Town cited with interest, and after a move wasn't made, Rangers, who are owned by the same 49ers Enterprise group as Leeds, have recently been credited as a potential suitor.

While all this is mere talk for now, once the transfer window re-opens for the summer, all three should be looking to reignite their interest once more, especially given Piroe's contract situation, which will definitely lead Leeds to be open to a move.

Joel Piroe is out of contract in 2027

Piroe signed a four-year deal at Elland Road when he signed for the Whites from Swansea City in 2023, meaning that he'll be in the final year of said deal next season.

Murmurs and rumours would have been swirling this coming summer anyway about a move away for Piroe, as you'd expect Leeds to bolster their attacking areas in the off-season if they remain in the Premier League.

But the 26-year-old's current contract will make those talks almost a certainty, as this would present one of the final opportunities for the Whites to cash in on him before his contract runs out.

Leeds spent over £10 million to bring the frontman to West Yorkshire, and given he turns 27 in August and has a clear scoring pedigree from his time in the Championship, he'll still have some value, even if it's diminished somewhat as he rides the bench at Elland Road this season.

That value will only decrease after the summer, if Leeds don't sell him, as sides would be able to try and agree a pre-contract or sign him for free at the end of his deal.

Rangers may be in the driving seat for Joel Piroe deal, depending on Championship outcome

While Piroe has shown his class in the second tier, and it's unfair to suggest that someone who has 73 goals in 179 Championship games isn't good enough for the Premier League, his destination may depend on how the rest of this season pans out.

Both Leeds and Sunderland have shown that having players with a decent top-flight pedigree is key to remaining in the Premier League, and if Ipswich and Middlesbrough do go up, a move for Piroe may not be in their plans anymore.

Their links surfaced during the January transfer window, and it'll be intriguing to see whether they'll still be there come the summer. If either is still a Championship club, you can almost bank on it.

Instead, though, Rangers may lead the charge for the 26-year-old's signature, as this may be more of an attractive offer for the striker himself, as it would allow him to perhaps play in Europe in a competitive squad, rather than take on another promotion task in the second tier.

Plus, the Scottish giants have the 49ers aspect that may appeal further to Leeds. Paraag Marathe, the chairman at Elland Road, is the vice-chair at Ibrox, so a more attractive deal may be able to be secured by them.

Either way, the destination of Piroe will be something to look out for come the summer, as it looks almost certain that the striker will be leaving West Yorkshire due to his contract situation.