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Why Leeds United could do with a Brenden Aaronson alternative – analysis

Brenden Aaronson has remained a divisive figure among Leeds United supporters. A section of the fans have never really forgiven him for being one of the first ones to leave when the club got relegated from the Premier League at the end of the 2022/23 season. He spent last season on loan at Union Berlin but surprisingly decided to help Leeds in their bid to get promoted when he returned to Elland Road last summer. Aaronson has been a constant presence in the Leeds team in that number 10 role and has started the last 27 league games for the Whites. Leeds do not have another number 10 in the squad and Daniel Farke has admitted that he would be open to signing one. Aaronson’s underlying numbers do show why Farke could do with one more attacking midfielder in his squad.

Leeds United sit at the summit of the Championship table after 29 games and are looking strong favourites to earn automatic promotion to the Premier League at the end of the season.

Aaronson has been one of the most important players in the squad and despite criticism of his physicality and outfit, Daniel Farke has continued to trust the American midfielder.

The United States international occupies the number 10 role in the team where he is tasked with the job of knitting the midfield and the forward line together.

The 24-year-old attacking midfielder has scored seven goals this season, which is not a bad return but some feel he is not creating enough chances for the team.

His lack of physicality has also come under the scanner and his underlying numbers are a reflection of Farke’s acceptance that he could do with another option in that number 10 role.

Brenden Aaronson is not creating enough for a number 10

Leeds’ style of football is based on having two defensive midfielders who will control the middle of the park while the number 10 pulls the creative strings.

The Leeds midfielders have done their job and have played a big role in controlling games with adept passing but Brenden Aaronson in the number 10 role has not created enough.

He has popped in with seven goals but a record of two assists in 29 appearances is poor in any circumstance. His expected assists are just over four, which is also not a great number for a player who has started as the number 10 in 27 straight league games.

Aaronson’s expected goals are more or less aligned with the number of goals he has scored but his chance-creation remains a problem this season.

He has created seven big chances for his teammates and in a team that miss more big chances per game than their closest two rivals create, that number is an issue.

The United States international is a neat passer of the ball but can he be more accurate with his passing in the opposition half? The answer is yes.

He completes only 78 percent of the passes in the opposition half, which is less than every other Leeds midfielder in the squad at this stage of the season.

Leeds need him to be more precise, which should lead to better chance-creation and more assists to his name for the rest of the season.

Leeds need another player to lessen the American’s load

Aaronson is one of the few players who has been a constant presence in the team. While some of them got a couple of breaks during the festive period, the American star played each game during that congested period as well.

The United States international struggles in physical duels but that doesn’t stop him from working his sock in each game for the team. He covers every blade of grass and pops up in any area of the pitch to provide a passing option to his teammates.

His heat map for the season shows how hard he works for the team and what he brings to the team despite the limitations of his game.

Leeds need another attacking midfielder just to ensure that Aaronson can be given a break from time to time as in some games he has looked a bit tired.

Aaronson also needs to be pushed to do better as at the moment he is aware that Leeds do not have another natural number 10 in the team at this stage.

If Leeds sign a number 10 before next Monday’s transfer deadline, it could play a key role in getting them promoted to the Premier League at the end of the season.

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