Radrizzani and 49ers to fund big enough bid to force Salzburg to sell Aaronson to Leeds United
Victor Orta will need plenty of financial backing for Leeds United to convince Red Bull Salzburg to sell Brenden Aaronson this month, according to Yorkshire Evening Post journalist Graham Smyth.
Writing on the YEP website today [20 January], Smyth reports that Leeds have seen a bid worth £15million rejected by Salzburg, who are in a strong position at the negotiating table.
It is understood that Aaronson has not yet told the Austrian giants he wants to leave for Leeds, which would strengthen the Yorkshire club’s arms in talks.
It seems as though it would take a massive bid for Leeds to land the highly-rated USA attacking midfielder and Smyth feels that Andrea Radrizzani and the San Francisco 49ers will need to provide additional funds for Orta to wrap up a deal.
Writing on the Yorkshire Evening Post website, Smyth said: “What Leeds can offer is Marcelo Bielsa and Premier League status, which was enough to convince Raphinha to park his Champions League involvement and ambition.
“Like the Brazilian, Aaronson grew up on the other side of the Atlantic with dreams of playing in the English top flight but, on this occasion, Leeds are not sitting down with a club who have every intention of selling their asset.
“If they’re to get their man, Andrea Radrizzani and the 49ers are going to have to send Victor Orta into negotiations with the strongest possible hand.”
USA connection
Is there a chance that Leeds are trying to sign Aaronson to boost their profile in the USA?
Of course, Orta wouldn’t be trying to sign the Red Bull Salzburg midfielder without the go-ahead from Marcelo Bielsa. But it sure seems as though Aaronson could also be seen as someone to help the Whites make themselves known in the US.
Earlier this season, the 49ers increased their stake at Leeds to 44 per cent and they could potentially take full control from Radrizzani in the coming years.
The NFL franchise has helped out a lot since they started investing in Leeds and they must feel as though from a marketing point of view, the addition of a top American player at Elland Road would help boost the finances even more.
And in Aaronson, Leeds could sign someone who’d do that as hes’ a young, exciting USA international who also ticks all the boxes for what Bielsa looks for in a midfielder.
Aaronson has been brilliant for Salzburg this season, helping them qualify for the last-16 of the Champions League.
Austrian football expert Lee Wingate, of The Other Bundesliga podcast, has told the YEP that Aaronson “plays at the front of a midfield diamond behind the two attackers where he has been outstanding in both the Bundesliga and the Champions League, with three goals and seven assists across 26 appearances”.
That spot in the Champions League knock-out stages is perhaps the biggest reason why he’d want to stay in Austria but a move to the Premier League does sound as though it would lure in the ex-Philadelphia Union ace.
In other Leeds United news, Orta’s been spotted at an airport in Europe amid major transfer talks.