Rodrigo to edge closer to Leeds United exit with Brenden Aaronson medical soon
Brenden Aaronson seems to be moving closer and closer to joining Leeds United and as exciting as that is, it could mean the curtains are closing on Rodrigo’s time at Elland Road.
Sky Sports Germany journalist Florian Plettenberg reported at 6:11pm on 23 May that Aaronson, 21, is due to undergo a medical “soon” with Leeds after a “total agreement” was reached between the Whites and the midfielder’s club Red Bull Salzburg.
It is understood that the USA international will be joining the Yorkshire giants in a deal worth between £23.7million and £25.4million.
Plettenberg adds there’ll be no release clause in Aaronson’s contract at Elland Road and while the deal hasn’t been agreed yet, the Sky journalist sees it as a “great transfer” for Leeds United, who’ve wasted no time in adding to their squad after avoiding relegation from the Premier League on Sunday (22 May).
As exciting as it is to see that Leeds are sealing this massive signing, it does mean that there have to be questions asked about Rodrigo’s future in West Yorkshire.
Since joining Leeds from Valencia for a club-record £27million in 2020, the 31-year-old has a major letdown.
Is he a striker? Is he an attacking midfielder? Is he a central midfielder? Or is he just a back-up player?
Rodrigo’s suffered from Marcelo Bielsa playing him in multiple positions, Patrick Bamford’s good form last season, injuries, COVID and struggles to find a consistent run of form off his own back.
We can sit here and make all the excuses in the world for Rodrigo but at the end of the day, the Brazilian-born Spain international hasn’t come close to proving himself to being a good signing for Leeds.
And based on the money that was spent on him by Victor Orta, you’d have to say that the Spaniard is one of the director of football’s biggest flops at Elland Road.
Rodrigo’s scored 13 goals and supplied just three assists in 62 appearances across all competitions for Leeds since his arrival from Valencia at the start of last season.
He’s found himself overlooked for the striker role while Bamford has been injured this season and dropped to the bench on multiple occasions by both Bielsa and Jesse Marsch.
More often than not, Rodrigo has played in the attacking midfield role.
But based on his most basic of stats, he’s neither a creator nor a finisher.
Aaronson, on the other hand, has been prolific in both scoring goals and making them at Red Bull Salzburg.
The former Philadelphia Union ace will no doubt be played in the number 10 role by Marsch next season and with the money being spent on him, will overtake Rodrigo in the pecking order.
Rodrigo is 31-years-old, he’ll be 32 by the end of next season and he’s on the verge of entering the final two years of his contract at Elland Road.
Leeds haven’t made any money on player sales since moving up to the Premier League and while they won’t come close to breaking even on Rodrigo, it’s looking as though they should cut their losses on him as soon as possible with Aaronson on his way in.
In other Leeds United news, Jeff Stelling mocked Marsch live on Sky Sports News.