The German manager needed to add players across the field, including a new center-forward, to ensure that his team could compete in England’s second division due to the significant number of players who left Elland Road.
Before the Dutchman made the move, Leeds were connected to Norwich City striker Josh Sargent [Simon Jones, 19 August], who had signed with the Canaries under Farke for more than £8 million in 2021 [Sky Sports]. Joel Piroe eventually came in to fill that vacancy, joining the team from Swansea City.
Since then, the forward has agreed to a new contract at Carrow Road that will last until 2028, thereby ending any opportunity for Farke to pursue the USMNT forward once more. This is especially true given the Whites’ strong offensive start to the season.
While Sargent himself started the season brilliantly, contributing to four goals in his first four Championship games, a ligament injury has kept him out of action since the end of August, but Farke’s current attackers have been equally good.
In his first eight games for Leeds United, Joel Piroe has scored five goals, and Georginio Rutter has contributed to five goals this year. These performances have helped Leeds United move up to fifth place in the standings heading into the October international break.
Patrick Bamford, who has been forced to wait in the wings since making his injury return, has been mostly absent from that good start to the season. However, given that he scored 16 goals in his previous Championship campaign, he could end up being essential to Farke’s team’s success.
Sargent’s best career total was 13 goals, which he scored in both Dean Smith’s and David Wagner’s teams last season. If Piroe maintains his current scoring pace, he will surpass that total by the end of the season, providing he stays healthy and in top form.
The fact that the American forward appears to be staying with Norwich for at least the foreseeable future shouldn’t bother Leeds supporters too much, even though he would have been another wonderful option for Farke to have at his disposal this season.