Joel Piroe's future was always going to headline Swansea City's off-season - even with a new manager, new chairman and new sporting director arriving in SA1.
Ever since the Dutchman indicated he wouldn't be signing a new deal with Swansea, this summer always seemed pivotal for the player and club.
As things stand, the 23-year-old has one year left to go on his Swansea.com Stadium contract and barring a U-turn of epic proportions, it seems inevitable the former PSV man will be leaving south Wales after two years of goalscoring service.
Surpassing 20 goals in each of your first two seasons in British football was always going to attract interest and Swansea will want to recoup a significant fee for Piroe rather than risk losing him for free next summer.
New man at the helm Michael Duff says plans will be in place for if he stays or if he goes.
“I had some good conversations with Joel at our training camp in Spain last week and he was asking in detail about what I want from him,” said Duff.
“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.”
Yesterday news emerged of Leeds United rekindling their interest in Piroe, after they made an approach on the final day of the window last year. That was rebuffed but the landscape has now shifted.
The Whites join Leicester City, Everton, Nottingham Forest and Russell Martin's Southampton on a growing list of admirers, with an unnamed Serie A side also tracking Piroe.
Duff and the Swansea hierarchy would, in an ideal world, want to keep him in Landore and secure him on fresh terms to help spearhead a push back to the Premier League. But if they can't do that - and signs at present suggest he will depart - then striking up a bidding war between the likes of Leeds, Everton and Forest is the next best thing.
Paul Watson indicated last week that Swansea would be active in terms of incomings this summer but it would be dependant on player sales.
“Certainly in this window we will be bringing players in,” Watson said. “There are key positions we want to recruit and we’re working hard on that right now.
“There is money to invest. How much is depending on where we see the squad transitioning to.”
A club of Leeds' stature joining the race which already boasted some heavyweights in it is no bad thing for Swansea, who will want to achieve the best possible fee for the Dutchman, so that Duff, Watson and Andy Coleman can re-invest that sum into the playing squad. Indeed it is probably exactly what they want.
Two signings have already arrived on frees - Josh Ginnelly and Josh Key - but more will be needed, especially in the final third, if Swansea are to be troubling the upper echelons of the Championship this season.
Swansea will want a quick - and profitable - conclusion to Piroe's future one way or another. Having a growing chasing pack should make that more feasible.
