Brenden Aaronson has made a solid start to the 2024-25 campaign at Leeds United after returning under a cloud following his loan spell in Germany with Union Berlin.
The 24-year-old returned to Elland Road in the summer after choosing to activate Victor Orta’s relegation loan clause in 2022. But he has won fans over, scoring four goals and laying on an assist in his 16 games.
He is one of the first names on the team sheet. But there are still many criticisms, with Simon Grayson questioning Aaronson’s end product. Jon Newsome says Aaronson is failing to live up to his £25m fee.
Indeed, Aaronson has lost the ball more times than any other Championship player – but that is expected of a no.10. The USA star is now with Mauricio Pochettino’s squad ahead of two games against Jamaica.
Brenden Aaronson is targeting 30 goals and assists this season
Prior to his comments in a feature-length interview on GOAL, it is reported that Aaronson has a little note pinned above his gaming set-up In his apartment in Yorkshire and it is a reminder for the Leeds player.
It says, 15 goals and 15 assists. Only 10 players managed to score 15 Championship goals last season, and two got 15 assists. No-one managed to do both, though Crysencio Summerville managed a total of 29.
Aaronson has placed some lofty expectations on his own shoulders but it shows how the standards he wants to be playing at. Certainly, he’s got some catching up to do if he is to reach that impressive target.
Aaronson deserves more goals and assists for Leeds this term
The USA star has laid on 23 key passes this season but the American only has one assist, creating a goal for Mateo Joseph at Sheffield Wednesday. Aaronson then, needs his teammates to start scoring more.
Even on Saturday, Aaronson’s gorgeous pass into Sam Byram was turned into the net by Manor Solomon. The pass before the pass, the USA star created the opportunity but it was offside with Byram going early.
The playmaker is shining for Leeds but if he is to reach his target, he needs to start showing Grayson that he was wrong with his claim that his end product needs sharpening. Right now, Grayson is right.
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