Loan request for Leeds United striker prompts bemused response to bizarre Celtic idea
A loan request for Leeds United's Joel Piroe was met with bemusement and laughed off this week, the YEP understands.
On Friday the YEP reported that reports north of the border that Celtic were in talks with Leeds over a loan move for Piroe were wide of the mark, for numerous reasons. Club sources have stressed throughout the January window that although Piroe has suitors in the Championship and abroad, he wants to stay and prove himself as a Premier League player and there is no attempt to force him out of Elland Road. What's more, a loan would be far less useful to Leeds than a permanent sale, which would be far more helpful with their Profitability and Sustainability position and their hopes of signing another targetman in the window.
The YEP has learned however that Celtic did make the suggestion, which did not lead to talks but was laughed off in bemusement due to the Scottish club's apparent lack of appreciation for the relationship between 49ers Enterprises' two clubs. The question was raised if Celtic's suggestion was a serious one. Leeds and Rangers boast two entirely separate operations and two sets of decision makers when it comes to day-to-day business, but enjoy a close working relationship. 49ers Enterprises supremo Paraag Marathe is chairman of Leeds and vice chairman of Rangers. The idea of him sanctioning the move of a player from one of his clubs to aid a direct title rival of his other club is a bizarre one - particularly because the suggestion was for a loan. While Celtic could match Piroe's wages, the same can be said for a number of Championship clubs, so if Marathe and Leeds wanted the striker off the books in a temporary move there would be other options open to them.
49ers Enterprises got their Ibrox tenure off to a rocky start with the ill-fated appointment of Russell Martin, before Danny Rohl was brought in and the team's fortunes changed on the pitch. Marathe's Scottish club now find themselves in a title race and have strengthened in the January window with a trio of new arrivals. Hearts remain top of the table with Celtic, whose supporters staged angry demonstrations at the board after a defeat by Rangers, in second place ahead of Rangers on goal difference. Hoops fans have vented anger at the running of the club, the disastrously short managerial reign of Wilfried Nancy and January transfer frustrations. Sunderland hijacked their attempt to sign Jocelin Ta Bi and on Saturday night it was reported in Scotland that transfer target Franko Kovacevic was set to move to Robbie Keane's Ferencvaros. The almost inevitable fate of their Piroe enquiry led to further criticism online. Returning boss Martin O'Neill has said Celtic are making progress towards signings and deemed them 'essential' this month.
Leeds meanwhile remain active in the transfer window despite the arrival of Facundo Buonanotte on loan from Brighton. The Argentine was in the matchday squad for the win over Fulham but did not come off the bench, having trained just once with the team since his signing on Thursday. The Whites would like to make a deal with Wolves for centre forward Jorgen Strand Larsen, though expect to face fierce competition should the Premier League's bottom side decide to part with him. Leeds' PSR position is said by club sources to be part of the complication, though they could sell a player this month or at the end of the season, prior to the June 30 PSR reporting deadline.
Piroe is one of the players in Farke's squad who is on the fringes, struggling for gametime and could potentially realise profit if sold this month. It would take a change in the Dutchman's current stance, but one option Leeds could explore would be to convince a selling club to consider him a makeweight in a proposed deal for a striker.
Daniel Farke talked down the idea of signing a centre-back again on Saturday night after the Fulham win, despite Jaka Bijol missing out through a hamstring strain. The Slovenian is set for between three to five weeks on the sidelines and Farke said only a set-back would make them react late in the window to add further defensive cover.
Winger Jack Harrison this week travelled to Italy to make a loan move to Serie A strugglers Fiorentina and 17-year-old Harry Gray moved to Rotherham United. The loanee made his League One debut on Saturday in a 3-2 defeat by Stockport County.