Mike Grella has given Daniel Farke some words of wisdom ahead of the Whites’ return to the Premier League next season.
Leeds United now have a huge amount of work to do after the club secured promotion to the Premier League on Easter Monday, after Sheffield United lost 2-1 away at Burnley who also earn promotion to the Premier League.
Meanwhile Daniel Farke watched as Joel Piroe scored four times in Leeds United’s 6-0 win over Stoke City and now it’s a straight shoot-out between Leeds and Burnley for the Championship title.
There’s just two games remaining in this 2024/25 Championship campaign: Leeds play Bristol City at Elland Road next Monday and then head to Plymouth Argyle in their final game of the season where they could yet lift the Championship trophy.
But despite the amazing achievements of Farke and his players this season, some may already be fearing for their place in the starting XI ahead of next season, or even for their place in the squad entirely.
Mike Grella says Leeds United need to replace Brenden Aaronson
Speaking on CBS Sports in the wake of Leeds United’s promotion, former Whites player Mike Grella was talking about the no.10 role and how Leeds have a good amount of quality in that area, but no true no.10 to fill that role. He then admitted that Brenden Aaronson has been sort of filling in that role, although he suggests that Farke would need to upgrade the American ahead of next season.
Grella explained: “For me, I think they have a lot of depth in the behind-the-striker position: so they’ve got Solomon, Ramazani, Gnonto, Aaronson, Daniel James, and they’re almost all the same player, and I think Aaronson is sort of, like, fitting in that no.10 position, but not truly a no.10. I think he can fit in one of the outside positions.
“If you’re going to play that way, maybe someone with a different skillset in that no.10 position that plays behind Piroe. A proper no.10 that will create numerical advantages that maybe he could add a little bit more to goal-scoring. I know Aaronson had a very good season goal-scoring wise, but playing also in a team that scores the most goals in the league, so that’s the position I would look to strengthen.”
Leeds United’s summer transfer plan that could involve Brenden Aaronson
All season there’s been criticism aimed at Aaronson, despite him featuring in all 44 of Leeds’ Championship games to date, scoring nine goals along the way, although Grella makes a good point about Aaronson simply playing in a high-scoring team.
And Farke has even criticised Aaronson’s form at times but he’s involved him in every match and seems to be a fan of the 24-year-old who could no doubt play a role next season. But in such a crucial position on the pitch, Leeds United need that bit of star quality.
Speaking to Leeds United News recently, transfer expert Graeme Bailey revealed that the 49ers have a summer transfer plan and that they know there’s a lot of work to be done, highlighting the no.10 position as one that is under consideration.
Whether Aaronson wants to stick around or not is a different question. It could be determined when he sees who Leeds United eventually bring in this summer.
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