Leeds United have reportedly made attempts to lure 21-year-old Brenden Aaronson from Austrian champions FC Red Bull Salzburg with a bid in the region of £15 million this month.
The attacking midfielder is a full international for the United States having scored five times in 15 caps, and has impressed over the past 12 months since his move to Europe from Philadelphia Union in MLS.
Typically an attacking midfielder, Aaronson is best described as a 'half-winger', capable of playing out wide or centrally in the third line of Salzburg's 4-2-2-2 formation.
During games, Aaronson is expected to cover ground in central spaces, as well as supporting attacks via the channels. Aaronson has one goal and five assists across 16 appearances in the Austrian Bundesliga this season.
Why would Brenden Aaronson fit Leeds United's style?
In a word: energy.
Leeds have been chasing a midfielder who can add intensity in abundance, with a dash of quality for two seasons. Their bid to land Mickael Cuisance in the summer following promotion hit a snag at the eleventh hour, while last summer's pursuit of Conor Gallagher ended in disappointment with the Chelsea loanee opting to join Crystal Palace for the 2021/22 campaign.
Aaronson boasts both elements to his game, contributing tellingly in the middle and final thirds for Red Bull Salzburg, on and off the ball.
According to football statistics database FBRef.com, Aaronson has averaged 27.84 pressures per 90 in the Champions League for the Austrian side this season.
To put that into context, this places him among the top 1% of attacking midfielders and wingers across Europe's top five leagues.
He is equally successful in retrieving the ball high up the pitch, forcing his opponent into giving up the ball 8.55 times per 90 - again, placing him in the top 1% of players in his position, although his overall success rate is lower due to the sheer volume of pressures he makes.
Marcelo Bielsa is renowned for preferring players who can press high up the pitch repeatedly and successfully. At face value, Aaronson fits the bill perfectly.
Salzburg employ a similarly high-energy system, looking to counter-press their opponent into forfeiting possession in their own defensive third. This means any prospective move for Aaronson would require little time for the player to adapt to Leeds' methods - both from a fitness perspective, as well as raising his game to a Premier League level.
Much like Gallagher, he is a tenacious attacking player without a huge physical presence on the field, but he can use this to his advantage.
Aaronson is rarely involved in the build-up phase of moves, but tends to knit together attacks with deft touches and composure in the final third, evading opposition attention.
The youngster is similar to Donny van de Beek during his time at AFC Ajax in the Netherlands; always active in and around the penalty area, identifying space to ensure he remains a threat, without getting too many touches. As a result, he takes shots from good positions and hits the target with roughly half of his attempts.
Defensively, Aaronson is active throughout the thirds, which is a key component of all Bielsa players, and undoubtedly a key reason for Leeds' tabling of a bid.
What happens next?
Salzburg are understood to value Aaronson higher than Leeds' reported £15 million bid, and will be keen to hold onto the attacking midfielder for their participation in the Champions League knockout rounds.
Aaronson is a player who stylistically fits the Leeds mold, and given how particular the recruitment team are forced to be under Bielsa, it is possible the club will up their bid to get their man.
Reports suggest Salzburg have rebuffed Leeds' offer and will hold out for an increased sum. The Austrian heavyweights have recently sold Erling Haaland, Patson Daka, Dominik Szoboszlai and Enock Mwepu for between £20-30 million, although Aaronson is unlikely to cost the £30 million commanded from Leicester City for star striker Daka.
