Brenden Aaronson will return to Leeds United this summer and play a key role next season under Daniel Farke, and Graham Smyth has made a claim about his wages next season.
The 23-year-old is returning to Leeds after a year out on loan at Bundesliga side Union Berlin, where he clocked up 38 appearances and had a hand in four goals while playing in the Champions League.
The USA star, who impressed during a cameo role against Brazil on Wednesday night, had the option to remain at Union or join another side this summer with clubs interested but he chose to come back.
The Yorkshire Evening Post’s Smyth reported this week that Aaronson would come back after staging talks with manager Farke. Aaronson has now said what Farke told him during that conversation before a return.
There are a number of reasons for Aaronson’s return that are not simply because the American wants to play for Leeds. Financially, it makes sense for Leeds to keep Aaronson rather than selling him this summer.
Graham Smyth makes claim about the Brenden Aaronson’s wages
The former Salzburg star cost Leeds a huge £25m and if Leeds were to sell him now, they would be lucky to get anything close to half of that figure. Making a loss is bad news when it comes to Financial Fairplay.
So, with Leeds needing a no.10 and failing to sign one last summer, it makes sense to bring Aaronson back both on and off the pitch. One thing that is unclear is how much Aaronson will get paid next term.
Aaronson was earning £45,000 in the Premier League, but every Leeds player has had wage cuts since relegation. Some that have been more than halved after entering the Championship ahead of 2023-24.
On the Inside Elland Road podcast, Smyth said that Aaronson has agreed to return on reduced wages: “He’s also, and I’ve confirmed this, coming back is him taking a wage that was on offer last summer.
“The wage reduction that was built into his contract. He’s certainly not getting paid anywhere near what he was getting paid as a Premier League player at Leeds, and he’s willing to take that hit,” Smyth said.
How Leeds United could line-up with Aaronson playing as a 10
Before Farke arrived at Leeds as manager and was undergoing the interview process, it was claimed that Farke was asked by The 49ers and the Leeds hierarchy how he would use star player Georginio Rutter.
At Hoffenheim, Rutter played as an inverted right winger. The Frenchman often scored or created the goals he was involved in in Germany by cutting inside and Farke said he would do the same with Rutter.
So, with Aaronson playing as a 10 and Willy Gnonto perhaps likely to leave the club this summer, it could mean Farke uses Rutter as a right-sided winger and put Aaronson into the heart of his Leeds attack.