£8m Leeds United target ‘in the form of his life’ as he channels Wayne Rooney in Europa League

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In public, Daniel Farke is refusing to give up on Brenden Aaronson even as the Leeds United playmaker’s struggles in the final third continue.

The £25 million signing from Red Bull Salzburg is now on a run of 12 Championship games without an assist. He’s only scored once in that time too.

Now, only a harsh offside call against Joel Piroe denied Aaronson the break he has been waiting for during Leeds United’s 2-0 win over Millwall in midweek. Farke was convinced that Piroe was onside when receiving Brenden Aaronson’s clever backheel and rifling home.

Yet, a dash of misfortune aside, this was another rather frustrating display even if the Leeds boss did describe it as Aaronson’s ‘best’ in a number of weeks.

Since the beginning of 2025, however, Leeds have been linked with a host of talented attacking midfielders. Regardless of whether Aaronson enjoys a happier run of form between now and the end of May, a number ten looks certain to be high on Farke’s summer wishlist.

Pavel Sulc’s Europa League brilliance shows why Leeds United like him

Edouard Spertsyan is keen on joining Leeds from Krasnodar in Russia. Alvyn Sanches is expected to leave Lausanne Sport. Diego Luna replaced Aaronson in the USA squad, meanwhile, and could yet do the same at Elland Road.

As for Pavel Sulc, the Viktoria Plzen talisman linked with a move to West Yorkshire of his own, he is clearly not lacking in confidence when it comes to sticking the ball in the back of the opposition’s net.

Sulc did not even need a touch to set himself as Viktoria Plzen threatened to undo all of Lazio’s first leg work in Thursday’s Europa League decider in the Czech Republic. As the ball dropped to him in the corner of the penalty area, Sulc curled a controlled, first-time strike into the far side of the net.

“Pavel Sulc ran to the ball and brilliantly sent it past [Lazio goalkeeper Ivan] Provedel,” was Czech publication Ruik’s description of an ‘outstanding’ finish.

A late leveller from Alessio Romagnoli ensured that Lazio would progress, in the end, at Viktoria Plzen’s expense.

But as reports link Napoli, Dortmund, Aston Villa and Manchester City with Sulc – not to mention a seemingly Premier League-bound Leeds United – a beautifully-taken 13th goal of the season to go with his 11 assists does the 24-year-old’s reputation no harm ahead of what is expected to be a crucial summer in his career.

Viktoria Plzen star valued at £8m and ‘in the form of his life’

“I’m glad that I helped the team reach the round of 16, that I contributed with goals and assists,” Sulc smiles, focusing on the positives following a breakout tournament in which he impressed against Eintracht Frankfurt, Real Sociedad, Manchester United and now Lazio.

“We’ll see what happens. I feel good. I go into every match 100 percent. If that wasn’t the case, I’d go to the coaches and tell them. They think my running numbers show that I’m not slowing down.”

Pavel Sulc idolises England legend Wayne Rooney. He certainly shares Rooney’s knack for a thumping finish. But it is also the manner in which he hares around the pitch, seemingly playing in fast-forward, which may appeal the most to Leeds boss Daniel Farke.

The German has spoken in glowing terms about Aaronson’s work-rate off the ball and his ability to press from the front. Any potential replacement at Elland Road would therefore need to contribute not only in the creative side of the game, but in the defensive areas too.

“Every time I see him play, I’m proud and shocked at the same time,” former Viktoria Plzen team-mate Joel Kayamba says of Sulc, blown away by his new-found ruthless streak.

“I remember when [people] laughed at him, saying he couldn’t even score an empty goal. But look at him now! He didn’t give up, he worked hard and I believe he can go far.”

Website iSport believe that Pavel Sulc is a footballer ‘in the best form of his life’. Reports have indicated that Viktoria Plzen are looking for around £8 million. That figure is likely to rise, however, with deep-pocketed clubs like Man City, Aston Villa and Dortmund get more serious.