Why Leeds must sign £25m playmaker to replace Brenden Aaronson

Leeds United have already made two fairly significant additions to their first-team squad since the summer transfer window opened for business.

Tarik Muharemovic recently joined in a £34m deal from Serie A side Sassuolo as a direct replacement for Pascal Struijk in the left-footed centre-back position.

Harry Wilson has also arrived as a free agent signing to bolster Daniel Farke‘s options on the wing, after he scored ten goals and provided seven assists in the Premier League last season.

Their business for the summer is not done there, though, as the 49ers should also be looking to replace Brenden Aaronson as a starter ahead of next season.

Why Leeds need to replace Brenden Aaronson

The USA international outperformed expectations in the Premier League last season to register four goals and five assists in the top-flight, but the expectations were low after he scored one goal in the 2022/23 campaign in his previous year in the top-flight.

Aaronson scored four goals from 4.55 xG and racked up five assists from 3.63 xA for the Whites last term, with two of his goals coming in the same game against Newcastle United in January at St. James’ Park.

The American attacker went into the season off the back of a return of nine goals and two assists in 46 matches in a dominant Leeds team that picked up 100 points in the Championship.

His inconsistent form in the second tier in a generational Whites team meant that it was not a surprise when Aaronson struggled for form towards the end of the Premier League season.

The 25-year-old playmaker produced zero goals and two assists in his last 15 matches in the top-flight, before failing to score or assist a goal at the World Cup for his country this summer, which is why Leeds should look to replace him this summer.

Leeds exploring deal for Brenden Aaronson upgrade

Supporters should, therefore, be pleased to learn that the club are looking to add more quality to Farke’s options in Aaronson’s position ahead of next season.

TEAMtalk reports that Leeds United are interested in a deal to sign Galatasaray attacking midfielder Gabriel Sara in the summer transfer window.

The outlet claims that Farke has explored a potential move to bring the Brazil international back over to England, two years after he left the German’s former club Norwich City.

Sara is not the only attacking midfielder on the club’s radar, though, as the report states that Genk’s Konstantinos Karetsas and Lyon’s Pavel Sulc are also options for the Whites.

The Brazilian midfielder, who has previously been touted at a fee of £25m, would be a terrific signing for the club if they can agree a deal with Galatasaray to snap him this summer.

His arrival could signal the end of Aaronson’s time as a regular starter at Elland Road in the number ten role, as he has the quality to offer even more to the team at the top end of the pitch.

In the last two Super Lig seasons, Sara created more than twice as many chances per game than Aaronson managed in the Premier League last term, whilst also registering more xA in both seasons.

It is not just his time in Turkey that suggests that he would offer more than the USA international, though, as the 27-year-old magician also scored 13 goals and provided 12 assists in the 2023/24 Championship season for Norwich.

He scored four more goals and provided ten more assists for the Canaries in that season than Aaronson managed in a Leeds team that won the league with 100 points, which speaks to the difference in quality between the two players.

Like the American, Sara is also comfortable in a variety of positions and is capable of playing in central midfield, as a number ten, or coming off the right flank.

The Brazil international, therefore, could arrive as the perfect replacement for Aaronson, given both his quality and versatility, which is why his arrival at Elland Road could be the beginning of the end for the former Salzburg man.