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Leeds United look to have dodged bullet as Max Aarons in worst Premier League signing XI
In what was an incredibly busy period of transfers both in and out of Leeds United last summer, there were plenty of players linked with making the switch to Elland Road.
While the likes of Ethan Ampadu and Joel Piroe made the switch to Daniel Farke’s side, there were plenty of players who for whatever reason didn’t end up pulling on the white shirt this season, including then-Norwich City full-back Max Aarons.
The England youth international looked set in the ranks at Elland Road this summer having had a deal in place with the Canaries for £12million, only for Bournemouth to swoop in at the last minute and secure his services [The Athletic, 9 August].
But it looks as though the Whites may have dodged a bullet after Aarons was included in WhoScored.com’s worst Premier League signing XI, with the Bournemouth full-back named as one of the worst arrivals across England’s top tier alongside the likes of Raul Jiminez and Kai Havertz.
The 23-year-old is the lowest-rated player in the side, with an average mark of 6.28 from his seven starts this season, after a couple of difficult displays including a disastrous afternoon against Arsenal which saw him receive a score of 5.04, the 11th-lowest of any player this term.
Bournemouth are still looking for their first Premier League win this season having got off to a difficult start under Andoni Iraola but Aarons was dropped for the Cherries’ final league match before the October international break with Marcus Tavernier preferred.
Leeds United on the other hand have been thriving in the Championship with the likes of Sam Byram, Luke Ayling and even Archie Gray performing excellently at full-back to ensure that most of the Elland Road crowd won’t regret mising out on Aarons.
On top of the already solid performances so far in Farke’s side, the Whites are yet to see the best of summer signing Djed Spence who arrived on loan following Aarons’ decision to head to the south coast, after the Tottenham man suffered an early injury.
Given Spence’s previous success in England’s second tier, he could well be a difference-maker for the Whites between now and the end of the campaign. If results continue in the manner that they have at the start of the season, there is every chance that Bournemouth and Aarons could swap places with Farke’s side next year.
In other Leeds United news, Ethan Ampadu was one of three United players to be “pivotal” in Wales’ win over Croatia