The Dutchman is on the radar of Leicester City, Leeds, Southampton and Atalanta after scoring 41 Championship goals in the past two seasons with Swansea City

Joel Piroe is a name that has been linked with Leicester City for some time.

City were first linked with an interest in the Dutchman last summer, when they were still a Premier League club, but self-imposed financial restrictions during the summer transfer window meant that a deal never happened. Fast-forward 12 months, and although City are now in the Championship, the links still remain.

New manager Enzo Maresca has brought five new players to the club so far in Harry Winks, Conor Coady, Callum Doyle, Mads Hermansen and Stephy Mavididi. The Italian has been tasked with rebuilding the squad, while also preparing them for the new season, which starts this weekend.

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City continue to be linked with other targets, with Piroe a name that is still being mentioned, although City are said to face competition for the striker, who has been in the goals during pre-season. So could a move happen this summer?

Duff provides update

Swansea manager Michael Duff has said that the club are yet to receive any bids for Piroe this summer, revealing that he had ‘conversations’ with the player over his future.

He told reporters ahead of their season opener against Birmingham City: “I’ve had conversations with Joel, there’s been no bids. Until there’s a bid, he’s our player. He’s been absolutely top-drawer the way he’s gone about it all.”

Piroe ‘expected to stay’

According to our colleagues at WalesOnline, Piroe is “expected to stay” at Swansea, with their £15million valuation of the striker considered a sticking point for any potential suitors.

It is said that Piroe’s representatives are “unhappy at Swansea’s proposals on how to structure a potential deal”, which could involve a dispute over agents’ fees.

Swansea could yet accept a bid for Piroe, but it is unlikely to progress if they do not appease those who represent the striker. Piroe has a year left on his contract, and has made it clear he will not sign an extension in south Wales.

Read more here.

The latest

During a Q&A with fans this week, City Correspondent Jordan Blackwell gave the latest on a potential move for the striker.

“I’ve been speaking to colleagues in Wales about this and it doesn’t seem like anything is imminent in terms of Piroe leaving Swansea,” he wrote. “No bids have been submitted for him.

“It seems like the clubs that are keen, and there are a few, have registered their interest, but it’s not gone any further than that. He’s still playing, and scoring, in pre-season.

“There have been suggestions that Swansea may still be trying to figure out a price-tag for him. With Gyokeres leaving Coventry for £20m, when he only had a year left on his deal, as Piroe does, that may convince the Swans they could maybe charge a little more.

“As for City’s stance on it, I can’t see them going all out for Piroe unless one of their current strikers is sold. It looks like Maresca is only going to play with one up front, and then with two wide forwards, so it doesn’t feel like signing Piroe would be a priority while they still have Vardy, Iheanacho, and Daka.”

Potential fee revealed

Piroe is expected to cost around £15 million as Swansea look to get the best price possible for the striker. The Swans were said to be asking for a rice of around £20 million last summer, when City’s interest first emerged. However, that is now likely to reduce due to Piroe having just one year remaining on his contract.

‘Crunch talks’ take place

Swansea are said to be holding ‘crunch talks’ with Piroe over his future this week amid interest from City. The striker has just one year remaining on his contract and is said to have made it clear that he will not extend.

Who else are interested

According to our colleagues over at WalesOnline, City and Atalanta have held initial discussions over a move. Southampton and Leeds United are also said to be interested, but the Saints will have to sell in order to buy, while the striker isn’t currently a primary focus for Leeds.

Piroe is said to be interested in a move based on the attraction of the project on offer, instead of finances. It’s something that could put City in a good position, given Enzo Maresca’s rebuild of the club this summer.

Transfer domino

Swansea could possibly have already planned for a departure of Piroe this summer, with their early transfer business. The Championship side have completed the signing of former Blackpool striker Jerry Yates.

city were previously linked with an interest in the 26-year-old, but he has signed a three-year deal with Swansea. It led to some fans speculating that the Welsh club were preparing for life without Piroe in the upcoming season.

City stepping up pursuit

After 41 Championship goals over the past two seasons, it is not surprising that so many clubs have been credited with interest in Piroe, including Premier League sides Everton and Nottingham Forest, fellow relegated clubs Leeds and Southampton, and Italian outfit Atalanta, who have City’s former recruitment chief Lee Congerton as their sporting director. But it is City who are among the frontrunners.

That’s according to WalesOnline, who say that City have been in touch with Piroe’s camp over the past week as they look to bring in the 23-year-old. You can read more here.

Duff’s pragmatic view

Michael Duff took over as Swans boss this summer and Piroe’s future was one of the first topics he had to deal with. He took a pragmatic view of the situation, and said Swansea were weighing up both scenarios, whether the Dutchman stays or leaves.

He told WalesOnline: “I had some good conversations with Joel at our training camp in Spain last week and he was asking about details of what I want from him. Until anything changes we will keep on having those conversations. If he goes, he goes, and if he doesn’t he stays – it is not personal, it’s football.

“I understand he’s the big name at the club and only has a year left on his contract. There will be plans in place in terms of the way we play if he stays, and plans for if he goes.”

Piroe’s motivating factors

The player himself has discussed his future, back in May, and said that regular football and progressing his development and career are the deal breakers for him. That’s what City must convince Piroe they can offer.

The forward told Eindhovens Dagblad: “Whether I will stay in Swansea for another year? There is a lot of speculation, but it remains to be seen whether something concrete will happen.

“It is nice to hear that clubs are interested. I mainly look at where I can play a lot and continue to take steps as a football player.”

Where Piroe would play

Piroe is a striker by trade and that’s where he has spent most of his time with Swansea, leading the line. But with City well-stocked for strikers as things stand, it would be interesting to see where Piroe would fit in the side, and how his arrival might affect how Enzo Maresca sets up. Could the Italian manager opt for a system that has two strikers, so that Piroe could play alongside either Jamie Vardy or Patson Daka?