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Daily Mirror
Daily Mirror
Sport
David Anderson

Brenden Aaronson transfer latest as Leeds chief explains the club's January policy

Leeds will try again for US international Brenden Aaronson in the summer if Red Bull Salzburg reject their improved £20million offer.

Leeds tabled their second bid before Saturday’s surprise home loss to Newcastle and have yet to hear back from the Austrian champions.

They initially offered £15million and are very keen on Aaronson, who has scored three goals and made seven assists this season for Salzburg.

The Whites are prepared to wait until the summer when Salzburg may be more willing to sell Aaronson, who cost them £5million from MLS outfit Philadelphia Union a year ago.

They understand Salzburg’s desire to keep the attacking midfielder for their Champions League last-16 clash Bayern Munich and they have reached the knock-out stages for the first time.

Victor Orta is prepared to play a waiting game to land Brenden Aaronson (PA)
Leeds have not stopped their pursuit of Brenden Aaronson despite having an offer knocked back (Mario Hommes/DeFodi Images via Getty Images)

Aaronson, 21, is interested in moving to the Premier League and working under Marcelo Bielsa, but will not attempt to push through a move this month.

Leeds have been tracking Aaronson for some time and director of football Victor Orta bid this month to test Salzburg’s resolve.

Orta and Marcelo Bielsa prefer to do their transfer business in the summer when new signings then have time to adjust to Leeds’ exacting physical demands.

They are prepared to return then for Aaronson and will not see it as that much of a setback if they cannot land him this month.

Leeds’ initial plan this month was to sign at least one midfielder, but chief executive Angus Kinnear claims the success of the young players blooded by Bielsa has made their search less urgent.

Leeds have been pricing up different options and Kinnear feels it may be better to stick with their youngsters than spend big on players who may not necessarily improve the team.

Kinnear also says making signings now would block the paths of younger players like Joe Gelhardt, Lewis Bate and Leo Hjelde, who have looked so promising when they have played this season.

He understands some fans may not agree with this strategy, but feels it is important to explain the club’s thinking.

Writing in his programme notes for the Newcastle game, Kinnear said: “In blooding Lewis Bate and Leo Hjelde, Marcelo broke a divisional record by having handed eight teenagers their debuts in a single season.

Brenden Aaronson likes the idea of a Leeds move but isn't prepared to push it through (Christian Hofer - FC Red Bull Salzburg/FC Red Bull Salzburg via Getty Images)

“While this has led to some factions understandably bemoaning a perceived lack of strength in depth in our squad, it promises an extremely bright future for our great club.

“This strategy clearly impacts on our evaluation of transfer targets, where our analysis indicates that many January options requiring an eight-figure investment would not be a material improvement on the current performances of emerging players such as Bate, Hjelde and Joe Gelhardt.

“Moreover, signing other options would block such youngsters’ development and would offer nowhere near the same long-term potential.

“Simultaneously any January activity has an opportunity cost on more optimal moves in the summer window.

“As a board, we have always tried to be transparent with supporters in the belief that it is better if our recruitment strategy is disagreed with by some fans rather than misunderstood by many.”

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