Leeds United relegation clause escapee set for surprise Elland Road return after Daniel Farke talks — YEP 10/6/24
By Graham Smyth
Leeds United are set to make Brenden Aaronson part of Daniel
Farke's Championship squad for the 2024/25 promotion bid.
The American was one of the first to exercise a loan release
clause in his contract after a disastrous first season at Elland Road ended in
relegation. Leeds, then under the majority control of Andrea Radrizzani and
with Victor Orta running the football department, included such clauses in the
contracts of several players to give them an option to leave and play elsewhere
rather than taking significant pay cuts in the event of a drop out of the
Premier League. And though Aaronson departed to join Union Berlin in the
Bundesliga five days after Farke's arrival at Leeds last summer, the deal had
been struck before the German's appointment.
Aaronson had struggled to contribute the necessary end
product in a difficult first campaign in English football, following a £25m
move from RB Salzburg that was agreed during Marcelo Bielsa's tenure but
completed in May 2022 when Jesse Marsch was in charge. The US Men's National
Team representative scored once and added three assists and though he retained
the backing of Marsch, faced criticism over his ability to adapt to the
physicality of the English top flight.
In Germany last season the Leeds man started 14 times in the
Bundesliga as a second successive relegation scrap engulfed him, but he and
Union Berlin were able to retain their top league status. Aaronson's two goals
and pair of assists all came in the second half of the season as Die Eisernen
finished ahead of 17th place and the relegation play-off by virtue of goal
difference.
Having spent a season away from Elland Road, Aaronson
engaged in talks with Leeds and Farke that club sources say went positively,
leading to a decision to bring him back into the fold. The YEP understands
Aaronson had the option to return to Union Berlin and there was interest from
elsewhere but his preference was to come back to Leeds to be part of the
promotion effort. Leeds believe that the 23-year-old could be a considerable
asset in the Championship, particularly in an area of the pitch that lacked depth
last term. Georginio Rutter eventually made the number 10 position his own, but
the Frenchman struggled to maintain consistency after a March international
break hernia operation.
The elephant in the room, of course, is Aaronson's initial
decision to leave the club upon relegation, rather than staying to put it right
but Leeds believe the precedent set by Willy Gnonto will stand in the
American's favour. Gnonto, who did not have a release clause in his contract,
attempted to leave the club via a transfer request and was stood down from
first team involvement at the start of the campaign before fighting his way
back into Farke's plans and fan affections, becoming more influential as the
season went on. Should Aaronson follow in Gnonto's footsteps and prove his
ability on the pitch in the second tier, Leeds believe there is a way back with
supporters. Though Farke went on record to suggest bringing back a player who
did not want to be at the club could be likened to warming up leftover food, he
was also clear that second chances are possible.
The plan for Aaronson now is international involvement. The
USMNT face Brazil in a friendly on June 13 in preparation for Copa America.
They will take on Bolivia, Panama and Bielsa's Uruguay, the latter fixture
coming on July 2, in the group stages. Aaronson will report back for pre-season
training at Leeds once his tournament is over and resume his Whites career, in
the knowledge that he has work to do with the fanbase.