Swansea City One Of Three Championship Clubs Interested In Premier League Defender

Having completed the signing of Joel Piroe from Swansea City, Leeds United are already eyeing up Tottenham Hotspur defender Djed Spence, according to reports.

Spence signed for Spurs last summer after helping Nottingham Forest to reach the Premier League during his time at the City Ground on loan. Unfortunately, the move to London didn’t work out as planned and the fullback was sent out on loan to Rennes in January.

The 23-year-old excelled in the Championship with the Tricky Trees but has since failed to adapt to life in England’s top-flight as well as Ligue 1 in France.

Spurs are willing to allow Spence to head out on a season-long loan, according to journalist Ben Jacobs. However, Jacobs has revealed that the Lilywhites would prefer to offload the defender permanently.

Speaking to Last Word on Spurs, Jacobs also reported that Leeds United, Bristol City and Swansea City are battling it out to sign Spence on loan for the rest of the campaign [quotes via TeamTalk]:

“I think Tottenham’s perspective would be exactly that, a permanent move, but at the moment it is loan options which have been presented to Spurs, which, might be okay.

“The only interest to date in his services is for loans and I think he would need to drop down to the Championship as well.

“My understanding is they are for loans and there are three clubs I would keep an eye on if they decide to loan him, and those are Swansea, Bristol City and Leeds United.”

Leeds United have already managed to secure the services of centre-back Joe Rodon on loan from Spurs this summer.

Writer’s View

The fullback slots are areas where Leeds need to strengthen before the transfer window closes next Friday so Spence could be perfect for Daniel Farke at the back.

It would also make sense for Spurs to allow Spence to make the switch to Elland Road given that Rodon is already there and the duo can link up together once more in defence.

Report: Leeds to pay another £3m for 24-year-old as new clause emerges

Wales Online claim Leeds United will shell out another £3m to Swansea City if the club gain promotion to the Premier League, after the Welsh side sold striker Joel Piroe to Leeds – for an initial fee of £10.5m.

Piroe, 24, has starred for Swansea since swapping PSV for England’s second tier. Moving to Wales, he has since scored 46 goals in 96 games – two of which has come in four games this season for Swansea.

Phil Hay has reported that Leeds are paying an initial £10.5m fee to sign Piroe – but add-ons could take a deal to within £1m of the fee it cost Leeds to sign Raphinha. Another £5.5m, taking a deal to £16m.

Now, the latest report from Wales Online states that if Leeds do gain promotion back to the top tier, then it will cost us £3m – in a deal for Piroe. It is unclear if that clause expires after one season, or will remain.

Leeds will shell out another £3m to Swansea if we gain promotion

What a signing. But it was always going to be an expensive one, even with Piroe in the final year of his contract at Swansea. The size of the clubs, and the amount, meant a fee had to be big. Dortmund, say.

So, Leeds might have slightly overpaid for Piroe – especially if a deal reaches £16m. But what we have got is a striker that will surely be good enough for the Premier League, young enough to get better.

Promotion to the Premier League will mean Leeds will receive plenty more cash. So, if it does mean we have to pay £3m to Swansea in the event of promotion – well, that is money well spent in singing Piroe.