Leeds United are already putting plans in place to bolster Daniel Farke’s playing squad when the summer transfer window finally opens for business next month.
The Whites know that they have to recruit well to build a team that is capable of avoiding an instant relegation from the Premier League, after they won the Championship title with 100 points.
Plenty of players have already been linked with moves to Elland Road, as is natural after a promotion to the top-flight, and one striker who was recently linked is Lecce striker Nikola Krstovic, who scored 11 goals in the Serie A this term.
Leeds are also reportedly interested in signing Portuguese central midfielder Mateus Fernandes from Southampton, who have been relegated from the Premier League.
This shows that the Whites are targeting players who have played at the top level to provide more quality to Farke’s options across the park, and that could come as bad news to some of the players in the current squad.
One Leeds star who should be very concerned about losing his place in the starting line-up heading into the 2024/25 campaign is Joel Piroe.
Why Joel Piroe could lose his place at Leeds
Football Insider reported earlier this month that the club are not planning to build their attack around the Dutch forward ahead of the Premier League season, as they have doubts about his ability to make the step up.
The left-footed marksman won the Golden Boot in the Championship, scoring 19 goals in total, but the club are not entirely convinced that his goalscoring form will carry over to the top-flight.
Piroe carried a big goal threat at the top end of the pitch for the Whites throughout the season thanks to his exceptional ball-striking and ability to finish chances effectively.
The former Swansea City star scored 19 goals from 17.17 xG, which illustrates how efficient he was in front of goal, but it was his play out of possession that suggested that the club may have to look elsewhere at a higher level.
Appearances
46
xG
17.17
Goals
19
Dribble success rate
32%
Ground duel success rate
33%
Aerial duel success rate
21%
As you can see in the table above, Piroe struggled with the intensity and the physicality of the game in and out of possession at times for Leeds, losing the vast majority of his duels on the deck and in the air, whilst rarely succeeding in his attempted dribbles.
This suggests that he could struggle against physically superior Premier League defenders, possibly making him a liability in a team that is likely to be defending a lot and fighting to avoid relegation.
Leeds could, though, sign a big upgrade on Piroe by swooping to sign a reported transfer target who they are now looking at to bolster their squad.
Leeds eyeing deal for £16m striker
According to Football Insider, Leeds United are lining up an exciting move for Dynamo Kyiv centre-forward Vladyslav Vanat ahead of the summer transfer window.
The report claims that fellow Premier League sides Everton and Fulham are also showing an interest in the Ukraine international, which suggests that there could be plenty of competition for his signature in the coming weeks.
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It reveals that Leeds have sent scouts to watch Vanat in action this season and that they believe he is a player who has the quality to improve their options at the top end of the pitch.
Football Insider adds that the 23-year-old marksman has a release clause in his contract with Dynamo Kviv, which means that the Whites, Everton, or Fulham could snap him up for a set fee of £16m.
With this in mind, the 49ers must splash the cash to bring the left-footed forward to Elland Road for £16m this summer because he could be a big upgrade on Piroe for Farke.
Why Leeds United should sign Vladyslav Vanat
Leeds should sign the Dynamo Kyiv star because he is a striker with the physical attributes to suit playing on the counter-attack in the Premier League more than Piroe does.
Firstly, the 23-year-old marksman has the athletic and technical qualities to consistently dribble past opposition players, completing 73% of his dribble attempts, 1.3 per game on average, in the Ukrainian top-flight this season.
This shows that he could be a terrific outlet for Leeds when they are under pressure whilst defending in a low block in the Premier League, because he has the ability to drive forward with the ball and take on defenders to get his team up the pitch, which is something Piroe is not particularly great at.
Vanat also won 1.3 aerial battles per match, winning 40% of his duels, in the Europa League, which suggests that he could also offer an aerial presence, winning flick-ons and knock-downs, that Farke’s team does not currently possess with the Dutch attacker.
Appearances
28
46
Goals
17
19
Minutes per goal
132
163
Conversion rate
35%
19%
Duels won per game
3.5
1.7
Dribble success rate
73%
31%
As you can see in the table above, the £16m-rated attacker also has the potential to offer a similar threat to Piroe in front of goal, as his conversion rate and minutes per goal ratio were superior to the Leeds star’s in the 2024/25 league campaign.
Vanat, who was described as “clinical” by U23 scout Antonio Mango, delivered 14 goals and ten assists in 28 league games for Dynamo Kyiv in the 2023/24 campaign, which shows that the forward is improving as a goalscorer with more experience.
These statistics suggest that the Ukraine international has all the physical and technical attributes to come in as a big upgrade on Piroe if he can adapt to English football and the Premier League, due to his dribbling and finishing skills combined with the physicality that he can provide in the number nine position.
Leeds could land their best winger since Raphinha by signing £25m "machine"
Leeds United could land their best winger since Raphinha by swooping for this star.
2 ByDan EmeryMay 26, 2025
This is why the 49ers should swoop to agree an exciting deal for the number nine ahead of Fulham and Everton to bolster Farke’s squad in the summer transfer window.
