Phil Sumbler
On Sunday afternoon Nottingham Forest and Huddersfield Town will meet at Wembley in what is often dubbed “the richest game in football” as they compete for a place at next season’s top table in the Premier League.
For the winner it is the 38 games where they will start with the simple ambition of securing enough points to stay up and for the loser it’s another season at Championship level and those trips to Rotherham and Wigan – probably on a wet Tuesday night in February!
The Swans of course have been on the end of both those positions experiencing the elation against Reading in 2011 and the disappointment last season against Brentford.
For us though there is increasing rumours that the outcome of the game could play a distinctive part in the future of Joel Piroe as the speculation around his future increases.ย Several sources have already suggested that a Forest win could see them want to make a move for the striker to bolster their Premier League attack.
Goals have not been a problem for Forest this season – only Bournemouth and Fulham scored more in the league – but pretty much everyone knows that you need to strengthen when you get promoted and the links to Piroe are probably natural on that basis.
This could be nothing more than lazy speculation of course given the links between Steve Cooper and Joel Piroe that saw the striker end up in South Wales in the first place.ย It was of course Cooper that signed Piroe for the Swans which gives many the chance to create a 2+2 position and come up with whatever they want.
One thing I do know is that it feels unlikely that Piroe would move for a Championship opportunity elsewhere (although as ever money may talk) so if there is to be mileage in the rumours it would surely only happen if Forest were to be promoted on Sunday.ย A loss to Huddersfield and it is difficult to see Piroe going to the City Ground and you may even argue that it is difficult to see why they would want him given their record this season?
For me if (when?) Piroe is to be sold on then it will be to a Premier League club.ย I’m not even sure the rumours linking him with Forest have any substance although I can completely understand why they arise in the first place.ย I have little doubt that they have drawn up two sets of summer transfer plans based on the vast difference in the two budgets and have absolutely no idea whether the name of Piroe is on either one of them.
We do know that the Swans are seemingly increasingly likely to cash in on their star asset this summer – we have even hinted at it during recent press comments from manager and those above him.
I am sure that many of us will also watch on with interest at Sunday’s game but whether it will prove to be a pivotal weekend in the future of Joel Piroe I guess only time will tell.
