NafisaParaag Marathe made his position clear at the end of last season.
Leeds United, he insisted, did not need another squad overhaul.
After the scale of the changes made following promotion, the expectation was that the summer would be about fine-tuning Daniel Farke’s squad rather than ripping it apart and starting again.
That prediction, however, proved to be wide of the mark.
By the time the transfer window slammed shut, Leeds had once again experienced significant movement in both directions, with seven new faces arriving and several established players heading for the exit.
Among the early departures was Pascal Struijk, while the club were also forced to deal with the unexpected decision of Karl Darlow to reject a new contract and join Manchester United on a free transfer.
Leeds responded by strengthening in several key areas, bringing in players such as Harry Wilson, James Trafford, Tarik Muharemovic and Nico Elvedi in an attempt to improve both the starting XI and the depth available to Farke.
Yet one decision towards the end of the window raised plenty of questions.
Leeds allowed Joel Piroe to leave on loan, with West Ham providing the Dutch striker with his next destination. What made the move particularly interesting was that the Whites did not bring in a direct replacement before the window closed.
Piroe had gradually slipped down the pecking order at Elland Road last season and a summer departure had increasingly looked inevitable.
The striker has now offered a revealing insight into the thinking behind his exit, including the fact that Ajax had shown an interest in bringing him back to the Netherlands.
According to Piroe, however, the Dutch giants ultimately could not meet Leeds’ asking price.
West Ham eventually emerged as his destination, with the forward opting for a move that should give him a much greater opportunity to play regularly.
And Piroe has been remarkably open about another factor behind his decision.
He believes London is simply a more attractive place to live than Leeds.
“London is obviously a much nicer city than Leeds. And West Ham has a team worthy of the Premier League”, Piroe was quoted as saying by ESPN Netherlands.
“Just look at the stadium… Sold out, 60,000 fans – that’s not exactly the norm in the Championship. Especially in London, where West Ham United isn’t the biggest or most popular club.”
His comments are unlikely to be particularly popular among Leeds supporters, but there was a more football-related reason behind the decision.
Piroe knows that regular football is crucial at this stage of his career, particularly after finding opportunities increasingly difficult to come by at Elland Road.
Rather than remaining at a Premier League club where he could spend long periods on the bench, the forward believes the Championship gives him the platform to rediscover his best form.
He has already set himself an ambitious target for the campaign.
“I feel like the Championship gave me the best opportunities to play a lot of matches”, he added.
“When you play a lot, you can showcase your qualities. That’s the main reason I chose a Championship team. You can play plenty of games and quickly find your rhythm. My goal is to score 20 goals.”
There is also an obvious incentive beyond simply getting regular minutes.
West Ham’s objective will be to return to the Premier League as quickly as possible, and Piroe could potentially find himself back in the top flight if they achieve that goal.
The loan agreement includes circumstances that could see the move become permanent if the Hammers secure promotion, giving the Surinamese international another possible route back to the level he has struggled to establish himself at.
Piroe was not good enough for the Premier League
The bigger question surrounding Piroe’s Leeds departure is whether he was ever genuinely suited to being a leading striker in the Premier League.
His record in the Championship has never really been in doubt. The forward has repeatedly demonstrated an ability to score goals at that level, which explains why West Ham were prepared to bring him in as they look to mount an immediate promotion challenge.
But his Premier League opportunities at Leeds told a different story.
Piroe found himself falling behind other options in Farke’s plans last season, despite the fact that Leeds did not even have four recognised strikers competing for places.
The German coach appeared increasingly unconvinced that Piroe possessed the physical attributes required to operate as the focal point of a Premier League attack.
When opportunities did arrive, Piroe struggled to make the same impact he had become renowned for in the Championship.
That ultimately left him on the fringes of the squad and made a summer exit increasingly logical for all parties.
From Leeds’ perspective, the decision to allow him to leave without signing another striker was a notable gamble.
From Piroe’s perspective, however, the move to West Ham offers exactly what he was looking for: regular football, the chance to regain his confidence and the opportunity to chase a 20-goal season.
If he delivers on that target and helps West Ham return to the Premier League, the decision could eventually look like a very smart one for the striker.
For now, though, Leeds have moved on without him.
Nafisa
