Leeds United wanted Joel Piroe before the deadline and Swansea City boss Russell Martin is delighted to have kept hold of him this summer.
The Whites chased attacking reinforcements all summer but especially before the transfer deadline on Thursday night.
Charles De Ketelaere and Arnaud Kalimuendo were two top targets for Leeds but went elsewhere, joining AC Milan and Rennes respectively.
Leeds then saw Rodrigo pick up a shoulder injury and even allowed Daniel James to join Fulham on loan in a shock move.
A deal for Bamba Dieng fell through, but Leeds did sign Italian teenager Wilfried Gnonto – but only after failing to sign Joel Piroe.
Leeds United wanted Joel Piroe
Wales Online reported on deadline day on Thursday that Leeds made a late enquiry to try and sign Piroe.
Swansea immediately stood firm and ignored Leeds making contact for Piroe, telling the Whites that he wasn’t for sale.
Leeds moved on to Gnonto, but you could hardly blame them if they kept tabs on Piroe moving forward.
Piroe, 23, joined Swansea from PSV Eindhoven back in 2021 and was simply sensational last season with 22 goals and six assists in 45 Championship games.
The Dutchman has started this term in fine form too, hitting three goals in eight league outings for the Swans.
Piroe scored the winner for Swansea in the 1-0 victory over Queens Park Rangers on Saturday, just days after that move to Leeds failed to materialise.
Piroe did though squander a penalty and boss Russell Martin told Wales Online that the striker continued to beat himself up about that penalty failure after the game.
Martin raved about his striker though, praising his work off the ball and the way he focused despite the interest from Leeds and other clubs.
Martin added that he thinks Piroe has been ‘fantastic’ for Swansea and will continue to do so, with Leeds surely keeping him on their radar for January or beyond.
“I was shocked he missed the penalty. He still is and such are his standards that he is really annoyed in the dressing room,” said Martin. “He scored the winning goal but he’s really angry with himself. What a brilliant young man. He has grown over the last year. What he gives us physically, out of possession, goes under-estimated and under the radar.”
“He is so clever in the way he presses and what he gives the team. He had to do a lot of that today. He contributed the goal and the way he has dealt with all the speculation and all the noise has been incredible. He has been so focused.”
“I am really pleased for him that he’s got three goals in three games now and I expect him to hit the heights and do as well as he did last season. We are really lucky to have him. The best bit of business we did was to keep him, for sure. He does love it here. He’s genuine when he says that. The relationship he has with the staff and the rest of the squad is excellent. He is held in such high esteem and so long as he keeps working hard he will continue to be fantastic for us,” he added.
Receive exclusive football transfer news and updates twice a week to your mailbox
