Leeds United make ‘Necessary’ transfer decision as squad development emerges
Leeds United’s decision to keep Brenden Aaronson for the 2024/25 Championship season is “sensible and necessary”, according to Dan Plumley.
The USMNT midfielder is set to stay at Elland Road for the new season after spending 2023/24 on loan at Union Berlin, but struggled to make an impact and has now confirmed he will stay with the Whites.
Graham Smyth has confirmed that the player wage reduction clauses that initially were triggered by relegation are still active and Aaronson will be returning on those lower wages, a move which football finance expert Plumley believes is good business for Leeds.
“Sensible and realistic in the cold, hard light of the finances,” he exclusively told MOT Leeds News.
“We said this in the light of relegation that they believed there were some relegation clauses in contracts and that would have meant some lowering of wages, which is absolutely the way you have to play it nowadays. The gap is too big to not have those kinds of contingencies in place.
“So if those are in place and you’ve got some loan players coming in and coming out, of course, it always depends on circumstances, and with Leeds obviously that was making it back to the Premier League this season or not, and you have to change your scenarios around accordingly.
“But, absolutely, in the Championship and based on the overall financial state of the club, those kinds of moves are sensible and necessary as well, to be honest.”
Leeds United must make use of their resources for promotion push
During the 2023/24 season, the Whites had one of the best squads in the division, but they crumbled at the end of the campaign and failed to win at Wembley to miss out on promotion back to the Premier League.
Changes are expected this summer with the likes of Crysencio Summerville likely to leave [The Athletic, 27 May] and Ethan Ampadu tipped to move on too [Dougie Critchley, 24 June], meaning replacements will be needed.
But finances aren’t as strong as they were 12 months ago at the club, and it means they must be smart with their squad considering a host of players are set to return to pre-season training after their loan spells ended.
Jack Harrison has already gone back to Everton while Marc Roca and Diego Llorente are expected to leave permanently. But there are decisions to make on the likes of Rasmus Kristensen and Max Wober.
Instead of spending money to strengthen areas of the pitch, Daniel Farke must be smart and use the returning loanees if he feels they can help the squad’s goal and only sign players who are better than them rather than wasting cash.
In other Leeds news, this Whites star “certainly” won’t play in the Championship next season.
For more Leeds news, follow us on Facebook or join our brand new WhatsApp Channel for instant updates to be sent straight to your phone.