Leeds United transfer news: Brenden Aaronson loan deal now at ‘final stages’ for summer exit – Fabrizio Romano
Brenden Aaronson is on the brink of a loan exit from Leeds United for the Bundesliga with Union Berlin set to sign him, Fabrizio Romano reports.
The American international arrived last summer in a deal worth almost £25million [Sky Sports] from Red Bull Salzburg after being chased for months the previous season.
After a strong start to the Premier League campaign however his form trailed off and despite making 36 top flight appearances he couldn’t stop the Whites being relegated, which activated an exit-clause in his deal for a loan departure [Daily Mail, 26 June].
Reporting that is exactly what is now on the cards via Twitter Romano wrote: “Union Berlin are set to sign Brenden Aaronson, agreement at final stages with Leeds United.
“Deal will be completed on loan until the end of the season — as MLS transfers anticipated.”
Disappointing
There’s no real way for Leeds United to dress up the Aaronson move as a success as he cost big money after plenty of effort and never really had the impact that was hoped for.
That Victor Orta spent what seemed like the entirety of the January transfer window in the 22-year-old’s final season in Austria attempting to convince Salzburg to let him go to no avail, while Marcelo Bielsa received precisely zero other reinforcements was a frustration.
So for his long-awaited arrival to have then little of the effect that had been anticipated has to go down as a recruitment failure, and with his exit only being a loan the club won’t even make back any of that transfer fee.
Unless a permanent option in this departure to Germany emerges it, in theory, leaves open the possibility of a return to Elland Road in a year’s time, which fans will obviously hope is back in the Premier League.
Aaronson appears not to have the physicality for the Championship and clearly isn’t minded to find out, but questions remain about his suitability for the English top flight either after his first year.
Better players than him have taken far longer to adapt to the division, but it would be a surprise to see him back in a Leeds United shirt in future, so what sort of return they can eventually get for him is probably the more important consideration now.
In other Leeds United news, the Whites are in the hunt for a “world class” talent from treble winners Manchester City to fill a position of need.