Something that can get forgotten about when a team, Leeds United in this case, is promoted to the Premier League is that there will be players who will not be good enough for the step up.
One player who started regularly in the Championship this season who is also in danger of dropping out of the side in the top-flight is Brenden Aaronson, who scored for his country on Sunday.
The USA international produced nine goals and two assists in 43 starts in the second tier for the Whites, but struggled when Leeds were last in the big time, with one goal in 36 Premier League games.
Aaronson did not do enough in the 2022/23 campaign and that is why he should be concerned by the club’s fresh interest in a new number ten.
Leeds are confident of signing Premier League midfielder
According to a report from Spain, Leeds believe that they are close to sealing a deal to sign Brighton & Hove Albion attacking midfielder Facundo Buonanotte during the summer transfer window.
The outlet claims that the Whites have turned their attention to the Argentine playmaker because they want to strengthen their team and are willing to be ambitious in the market.
It adds that they have identified the Brighton youngster as a priority target and that they are ‘confident’ that they will ‘close’ a deal for his services soon.
The report also mentions that the Seagulls are looking for a fee that could reach £30m with add-ons, which could make this a very expensive purchase for the Championship champions.
Why Buonanotte would be an upgrade on Aaronson
Leeds would be signing a big upgrade on Aaronson in the number ten position in Daniel Farke’s 4-2-3-1 formation by completing a deal to sign the Brighton youngster this summer.
Buonanotte, who was hailed as a “magician” by Rising Star XI on X, spent the 2024/25 season on loan with Leicester in the Premier League, and caught the eye with some impressive displays.
The 20-year-old starlet ended the season with a very respectable return of five goals and seven ‘big chances created’ in just 14 starts in the top-flight for the Foxes, including the impressive goal against Forest in the clip above.
His performances as an attacking threat in the Premier League this season, in comparison to Aaronson’s showings in his top-flight term at Elland Road, suggest that he would improve Farke’s team.
|
Premier League |
Buonanotte (24/25) |
Aaronson (22/23) |
|---|---|---|
|
Appearances |
31 |
36 |
|
Starts |
14 |
28 |
|
xG |
3.93 |
3.86 |
|
Goals |
5 |
1 |
|
Big chances created |
7 |
5 |
|
Assists |
2 |
3 |
|
Stats via Sofascore |
||
As you can see in the table above, Buonanotte scored more goals and created more ‘big chances’ in his top-flight season than Aaronson did, despite starting half as many matches.
This suggests that the left-footed wizard would offer more quality at the top end of the pitch than the American dud, which could help the Whites to pick up vital points in their bid to avoid an instant relegation from the Premier League next season.
Buonanotte, despite being a diminutive playmaker, could also offer more physicality than Aaronson. He won 33% of his aerial battles and won 1.7 tackles per game in the league, whilst the Leeds flop won just 17% of his aerial duels and made 1.3 tackles per match.
This suggests that the £30m-rated star could be less of a liability than the Leeds number 11 when it comes to his work out of possession in the top-flight.
Related
The new Phillips: Leeds want to sign £15m star with “undeniable” potential
Leeds United are reportedly keen on a star who would be Daniel Farke’s own Kalvin Phillips.
Therefore, Leeds could improve their team and provide Farke with a fantastic young talent in the number ten position by getting this move over the line.
