49ers Enterprises could miss out on eight-figure Brenden Aaronson windfall at Leeds United after recent Phil Hay update
Brenden Aaronson, upon his Leeds United loan exit this summer was one earmarked to aid them financially later down the line but his current struggles could see the club completely miss out on some cash injection.
The American international, who cost a whopping £24.7 million [Sky Sports] in 2022, departed Elland Road for a loan move to Bundesliga outfit Union Berlin during the summer after struggling during his first campaign in England and the Whites suffering relegation.
The Athletic journalist Phil Hay shared on 4 October that the loan deal, as much as it was forced due to a release clause in his contract, could help Leeds United to enhance Aaronson’s value over the current season.
Had he been sold permanently upon their relegation from the Premier League, the club would have made a loss on the fee paid to RB Salzburg to bring the American to Elland Road, but a good loan spell would give them more chance of breaking even.
Despite Aaronson’s wish to play Champions League and Bundesliga football, a slow and poor start to his Union Berlin career has made it even more unlikely that Leeds will manage to gain a potential eight-figure windfall.
Having spent a large sum to sign him in 2022, Aaronson was supposed to be the club’s answer to their creative issues in the final third having undergone a stunning upward trajectory at Salzburg.
40 Leeds United games later [Transfermarkt], and that investment has proven an unfortunate failure meaning he would have to have a monstrous season in Germany for the club to hope to receive a fee of that level.
However, his current form in Berlin and even on international duty of late means Leeds United will have great trouble claiming a significant and healthy windfall on any sale in the future, something which has become a worrying theme since the 49ers Enterprises walked through the doors.
Rodrigo left the club for a tiny £3million reported fee, having signed him originally for £26million. Robin Koch looks unlikely to sign a new deal while out on loan, and he will leave for free having arrived for around £12million.
Also, a recent report from Phil Hay this month, revealed that Elland Road academy graduate Sam Greenwood could depart the club to make his Middlesbrough loan permanent for as little as £1.5m given his remarkable potential, a player who could develop even further at Elland Road and be sold for as much as £20m or more.
A worrying financial trend is emerging at Elland Road and the way Aaronson is performing at this moment in time could well mean the Elland Road owners miss out on some much-needed cash injection yet again.
If the 22-year-old continues to struggle during his loan stint with Union Berlin for the remainder of the campaign, it could well be hard for Farke to find a club willing to take the US international off his hands.
Hopefully, for everyone’s sake and Leeds United most of all, he can rediscover some sort of form to reignite his career.
In other Leeds United news, one Thorp Arch academy graduate may have to leave in January with his career now in serious jeopardy.