Middlesbrough are keen on signing Joel Piroe, with Leeds United willing to sell the striker if they avoid relegation from the Premier League.
Boro gearing up for exciting end to Championship season
Boro are pushing for promotion to the top flight, and there is an outside chance they could finish in second place.
With Ipswich Town drawing 2-2 at Southampton on Tuesday night, Kim Hellberg’s side remain two points behind their promotion rivals, with just one game left to play, although their weaker goal difference could be a problem.
The calibre of signings Middlesbrough are able to make this summer will hinge upon whether they are able to achieve their goal of promotion, and they are now in the race for Leeds striker Piroe, hoping to deal a blow to Scottish giants Rangers, who are also eyeing a move.
That is according to a report from TEAMtalk, which reveals Boro are keen on signing the striker if they remain in the Championship.
Leeds are set to tell the Suriname international he can move on in the summer, should they remain in the Premier League, and they are in a very strong position to do exactly that, having reached the 40-point mark, which puts them six clear of the drop with four games still to play.
Daniel Farke has barely used the South American striker this season, but he lauded him back in 2024, at which point Leeds were still in the Championship, saying: “He is an unbelievable finisher for us. For me, he is the best finisher in this league and when it comes to finishing there is not one player better than him.”
For Boro, this could mean the end of the David Strelec’s time at the club. The Slovakia international has finally found form in recent weeks after his big money move last summer, but that has attracted interest from the likes of Everton and Nottingham Forest, who could pounce if promotion is not achieved.
Joel Piroe’s goalscoring record in the Premier League vs Championship
Boro’s plan to only sign the £40k-a-week striker if they achieve promotion makes a lot of sense, considering he is highly proven at second tier level, picking up 73 goals and 18 assists in 179 Championship matches.
However, the 26-year-old has failed to score in his first 14 Premier League matches, appearing for just 218 minutes all season, which indicates Middlesbrough will be able to attract a better striker if they are promoted.
