Leeds United: Daniel Farke stance on January transfer window Elland Road recall for Brenden Aaronson – Phil Hay
Daniel Farke doesn’t appear to want any of the Leeds United loanees back at the club during the January transfer window, according to Phil Hay.
Speaking on The Square Ball on 19 January the Athletic journalist was asked about talk of a recall for Brenden Aaronson, who is believed to be unhappy at Union Berlin and had been said to be under consideration for a return by the Whites boss.
Hay poured cold water on the idea, suggesting that the manager’s view is that the key decisions where made on the unpopular slew of summer departures at the time, and that a return for any of them may upset the mood back at Elland Road.
Hay said (44m 20s) when asked about the Aaronson idea: “I don’t get the sense that Farke wants any of them back, I think he’s happy with what he’s got. And I don’t think the crowd would be crowing for them to return either.
“Before the window we were asking Farke about what January was likely to be like. He said he thought it would be quiet, there wouldn’t be too much going on, and he said for this season the major decisions were taken in the summer, which is what better clubs tend to do, get their ducks in a row before the season starts rather than really having to scramble in January.
“I think that applied to the outs and the ins. He’s never really said in explicit detail what he felt about the players going… I just don’t think that recalling any of these would necessarily help massively in a footballing sense anyway, but I’m not sure it would do much for the mood either.”
Never say never
Logically it is hard to see the club or the manager going out of their way to welcome back any of the players who jumped ship in the summer ahead of time.
The Whites are under no obligation to come to the rescue because a move Aaronson thought would benefit him hasn’t worked out.
But, if it suited the needs of the squad at this stage of the season it would equally be pointless to rule out the possibility, and Farke has shown that he will offer a reprieve if he feels the attitude of the player is right, as he did with Willy Gnonto earlier this season.
There does appear to be a gap in the Leeds United squad for a central attacking midfielder, and with the chances of signing a new one slim in January it would be a simpler route to one to bring Aaronson back.
Whether the American would thrive in the Championship more than the Premier League, as the likes of Georginio Rutter have, is surely the key consideration, but if he were to round into form in the same way as the young Frenchman it would obviously be useful.
Incoming activity is so far proving much easier said than done almost three weeks into the window, including at the far greater priority positions of either full-back spot, so it potentially even opens the door slightly to looking at the likes of Rasmus Kristensen as well.
But while it was clearly a blow to lose certain players in the summer it was less disappointing to see others who hadn’t been particular assets on the pitch leave.
Even if the long-term outlook is geared entirely towards selling it might be of more benefit to have someone contributing to a promotion push rather than struggling out on loan.
In other Leeds United news, a pundit has issued an “astronomical” reaction amid a top flight transfer threat at Elland Road.
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