Unintended consequence of Leeds United's Brenden Aaronson talks suddenly puts teammates under pressure — YEP 11/6/24
By Joe Donnohue
Leeds United midfielder Brenden Aaronson has inadvertently
started the timer on his fellow Whites teammates ahead of the 2024/25 season.
After positive talks with manager Daniel Farke, it has been
decided that Aaronson will remain at Elland Road during the forthcoming
Championship campaign, much to the surprise of Leeds supporters. While some
fans perceive the decision to be a positive move, reintegrating a United States
international with top flight experience in two different major European
leagues by the age of 23, others have been less forgiving of the manner in
which Aaronson departed Leeds last summer following relegation from the Premier
League.
He, along with several other first-team players, exercised a
loan release clause in his United contract, permitting a temporary exit which
would allow him to avoid having to play Championship football or take a
mandatory wage reduction.
Robin Koch, Diego Llorente, Rasmus Kristensen, Max Wober,
Marc Roca, Jack Harrison and Luis Sinisterra found themselves in a similar
position and left on loan to various clubs in Serie A, LaLiga, Bundesliga and
Premier League.
While Koch and Sinisterra have departed for good, the rest
remain contracted to Leeds. News of Aaronson's Leeds committal has naturally
given rise to the possibility of others returning to Elland Road for the
2024/25 campaign.
Certain members of the Leeds loan exodus do have the option
to stay out on loan for another season, but not all. If Leeds' asking price for
these particular individuals is not met by interested clubs, the only recourse
will be to reabsorb those who took one look at the prospect of a season in the
Championship last summer and said 'no, thank you'.
Additionally, new FIFA rules stipulate Leeds can only
sanction six outgoing international loans this summer, reduced from seven last
year and eight the season before, so there is no guarantee all those returning
from spells away can be farmed out on loan again.
Given the feeling among supporters towards the loan
escapees, it might be prudent for those whose future - at least in the
short-term - might follow a similar path to Aaronson, to hold talks with Farke
and the club hierarchy to discuss their options for the upcoming campaign.
Committing themselves to Leeds' promotion cause in 2024/25
would go a long way to repairing the fractured relationship with the fans. On
the other hand, declaring their intention to continue their careers elsewhere
would at least give Leeds the benefit of planning for the future knowing they
cannot be counted on, and allow for United to make them available for the
duration of the transfer window in order to drum up as much interest as
possible.
Farke compared returning loanees to warmed up leftover food
last year, which suggests not all conversations will go as smoothly as it
appears the Aaronson summit went, but as demonstrated with the reintegration of
wantaway Willy Gnonto last summer, the German is willing to offer second
chances. There will not be a third, however, meaning each returning player's
decision to stay or go in the coming weeks will be final.
