Joel Piroe asking price claim amid Leicester City and Leeds United transfer links

Swansea City striker Joel Piroe is ‘expected’ to cost around £15 million this summer, amid interest from Leicester City and Leeds United among others.

The striker has emerged as a potential target for Enzo Maresca in the transfer window as he looks to add to his attacking options. City have so far added four new players to their squad.

Harry Winks, Conor Coady, Callum Doyle and Mads Hermansen have all arrived this summer. But more new faces are expected between now and the end of the window as City look to bounce back to the Premier League at the first time of asking.

One player who City have been heavily linked with is Piroe. The Dutchman was of interest to the club a year ago, with Swansea said to be asking for a fee of around £20 million, but finances meant that a deal could not happen.

Last season saw him score a total of 20 goals in all competitions, so it’s no surprise City look to have retained their interest. But they are not the only club, with Leeds United, Southampton and Atalanta also said to be eyeing the player this summer.

Piroe has one-year remaining on his contract with Swansea, meaning he could be available for a cheaper price this summer. According to the Mail , Pire is expected to cost in the region of £15 million.

Swansea were said to hope to hold ‘crunch talks’ with Piroe over the weekend, where his valuation would be discussed. If the Swans don’t sell the striker this summer, they risk losing him for nothing in a year’s time.

Giving the latest update, Swans’ manager Michael Duff revealed that the club are yet to receive any official offers for the player so far this summer. He’s been absolutely top drawer,” he told WalesOnline . “It’s [speculation] been everywhere but we haven’t had a bid.”

READ MORE

Leicester City will want a fee of near £20m if they are to sell Wilfred Ndidi in the summer transfer window.

Leicester want substantial fee for Wilfred Ndidi

The Nigerian international joined the Foxes in January 2017 from Genk for around £17m, and he has gone on to be an important player for the club in that time.

Ndidi was influential as Brendan Rodgers’ side won the FA Cup, whilst he was excellent as they finished in the European places over the years.

However, his form dipped in the past 18 months or so, and Ndidi made 27 appearances as the Midlands outfit were relegated to the Championship.

Naturally, that cast doubt over his future, and it had been claimed that a reunion with Rodgers at Celtic could be on the cards.

But, Daily Mail reporter Tom Collomosse has revealed that Celtic, or any other club, would have to pay ‘close to £20m’ to get Ndidi from Leicester.

Will Leicester get £20m for Wilfred Ndidi?

In truth, this seems very ambitious by Leicester. Crucially, Ndidi has entered the final year of his deal, so he could sign a pre-contract with clubs outside England in January.

That obviously has a big impact on his value, along with relegation, so Leicester would be doing very well if they could recoup the money they paid for the player.

That doesn’t mean the offers won’t arrive, and if interest emerges from Saudi Arabia, Leicester could potentially ask for even more. But, realistically, they’re going to struggle to get to near £20m for Ndidi at the moment.

Could Wilfred Ndidi stay at Leicester?

Following on from that, you have to say it’s a real possibility that he remains at the King Power Stadium, unless Leicester drop their demands.

That’s a real possibility, as if fresh terms can’t be agreed with Ndidi, the club surely won’t want to lose the player on a free in 12 months time.

If he did move on, it would be a blow for Enzo Maresca, as Ndidi could potentially be a key player for him. But, he has been used in a box-to-box role in recent friendlies, so you could argue that Leicester would be better off using any funds from his sale to bring in someone more suited to that position.

It was always going to be a busy window for Leicester after relegation, and there needed to be a focus on bringing money in, which the departures of James Maddison and Harvey Barnes have done.

Maresca still has a big squad, and he will want to move players on to ensure he can bring in his own new signings, and it wouldn’t be a surprise if Ndidi did go due to his contract situation.

So, this is one to monitor in the coming weeks, and it will be interesting to see what happens, and whether Ndidi pushes to secure a move away this summer.