Phil SumblerJoel Piroe is a man making people sit up and take notice this season. Twelve goals to his name for the Swans following his summer move from PSV and there is now speculation that Leicester City are watching his progress as they weight up their overall future transfer moves.
It is little surprise that Piroe is attracting attention given his goal tally for the Swans this season and the partnership that he has built with Jamie Paterson has – one more than one occasion – paid dividends for the team.
So when reports surfaced earlier this season of interest from Leicester City it was no surprise although more than a few eyebrows were raised at the figure of £10m that seemed to be widely banded about despite no interest being raised by the Foxes or any seeming desire for the Swans to be wanting to cash in (although clearly an acceptance that offers would be listened to)
It is not interest that has reached Piroe though who answered a simple question on the reported interest in this week’s League paper with an equally simple answer “No, I haven’t heard anything about that,” the Swans striker responded.
“Of course you always want to reach the top. As a professional player, that should be everyone’s ambition. But I just want to enjoy the moment I am in right now. Swansea is perfect for me because I am doing what I always wanted.”
Piroe’s interview is a real eye opener to his reasons as to why he ended up at Swansea having got completely frustrated by his time at PSV “It feels like you are giving everything in training but no matter what you give you still keep waiting. When that happens I think it is a good idea to search somewhere else for your opportunities.
“I understand that is how it goes at bigger clubs but at the same time I felt ready to play for PSV so it was a bit of a struggle mentally. I asked why. I got some explanations but I think as a player no matter what you do it can be very hard to make someone think differently about you.
“When a manager or a coach has an opinion of you at the start of the season and makes a decision about you it is very difficult to change it. Especially if you don’t play in games.
“When Swansea came in I had a few chats with them and everything they said to me felt right. I really like the style because you don’t just get the ball smashed at you. You can come short, get in better positions, better conditions. Most of the time I’ve time to free myself from my man before I receive it. If he is close I get a nice soft ball it makes it much easier for a striker.
“I’m really happy. I’ve settled really well in Swansea. The people here who work for the club, everybody around it. They have welcomed me really well and the same goes for the players. It has made it feel like home, even in such a short time. Even the weather is not too bad at the minute so I cannot complain.”
How much Leicester are really considering a move at the striker at the moment is a subject for debate but it is clear from the words of Piroe that he wants to play football and he is enjoying life in South Wales. More game time and more goals could increase the chances of a move but he will also have been told about other players who have made those moves from Swansea and seen their careers stutter as a result.
In a game such as football money will always talk but an exit of Piroe in January seems unlikely based on a career in this country of a little over 20 games. Time though, as ever, will always tell.
