Leeds United traveled to Loftus Road to face Queens Park Rangers, hoping for an intriguing match that would result in another three points for Daniel Farke’s side.
The Whites suffered a 4-0 defeat at QPR in the Championship, allowing Ipswich Town to move up to second place with two games in hand.
The Tractor Boys only drew at Hull City this weekend, keeping them in second place on goal difference, but their performance in London does not inspire confidence ahead of their final league game of the regular season at home to Russell Martin’s Southampton.
Joel Piroe is unlikely to start this potentially critical game against the Saints following another poor performance in a Whites shirt at QPR, with a replacement for the ex-Swansea City attacker already in place.
Leeds Transfer News
Leeds’ business in the upcoming transfer window will be heavily influenced by their club status, with the West Yorkshire team desperately wanting to overcome obstacles and return to the Premier League.
According to rumors, Adam Hzolek, a Czech attacker currently on the books at Bayer Leverkusen, is being linked with a move to Elland Road in the summer.
The prospect of shifting to the noise and bustle of the Premier League could be the selling factor for the ex-Sparta Prague forward, who will undoubtedly seek more playing time at the Whites in order to leave Leverkusen behind.
Alonso’s champions are reportedly considering a swap move for Crysencio Summerville in order to put this potential deal on the table, but that appears unlikely given the electric Leeds winger’s importance to Farke’s side – the ex-Feyenoord forward has managed to score a staggering 30 goals in all competitions this season from 45 games.
Leeds will instead see a move for Hzolek as an upgrade on a struggling Piroe, with the Czech attacker capable of playing as a lone centre striker or even an attacking midfielder, similar to the Whites’ number seven.
What may Hzolek bring to Leeds?
Described as “extraordinary” by his own agent Pavel Paska during his Sparta Prague days, Hzolek was a dangerous finisher in his home country before heading to Germany.
Hzolek, who is still only 21 years old, has 40 goals in the Czech capital from 132 appearances, 15 of which came in just 18 games during the 2020/21 season.
Despite few opportunities in the first-team picture week after week, the talented forward has scored seven goals in all competitions this season, playing in a variety of attacking positions.
Hzolek, who has lined up on the left wing for Leverkusen on occasion since joining (ten times in 76 matches), will be viewed as an upgrade on Piroe as a versatile and adaptable presence ready to take the step up to play in either the gruelling demands of the Championship or the high intensity of the Premier League.
Piroe will be worried about his future at Leeds following this transfer development, having struggled as a weak and passive presence at Loftus Road last season.
Only winning two of the 11 duels that came his way in West London, the time might be right for the 49ers to cut their losses and sell on their lacklustre £12m signing and get fresh blood in the form of Hzolek in instead.
