Leeds United will be in the big time again next season, following their 100-point Championship title success, and they are now a small fish in a big pond in respect to the transfer market.
Whilst the Whites may splash the cash to bolster their squad in an attempt to avoid an instant relegation from the Premier League, they will not be able to compete for transfers with the top teams in the division, as they did in the second tier.
The biggest trending transfer story in the Premier League at the moment perfectly illustrates that, as the champions are lining up a move for a European superstar.
Liverpool are working to finalise a deal to sign Bayer Leverkusen attacking midfielder Florian Wirtz for a reported fee of €150m (£125m), with Fabrizio Romano adding that the Germany international ‘only wants’ the Reds.
The 22-year-old attacking midfielder delivered 16 goals and 14 assists in all competitions for the German side during the 2024/25 campaign, and could be about to strut his stuff in the Premier League with Arne Slot’s team next term.
A new attacking midfielder could also be on the agenda for Leeds heading into the summer window, but they are not going to compete for a signing like Wirtz, after Brenden Aaronson’s struggles in the Championship.
Why Leeds need a new attacking midfielder
The USA international was Daniel Farke’s go-to option in the number ten position throughout the season in the second tier, but did not do enough to suggest that he will fare any better than the last time he was in the Premier League with the Whites.
Aaronson only produced one goal and three assists in 36 matches in the top-flight during the 2022/23 campaign, as Leeds were relegated, and his fairly average form in front of goal in the Championship does not suggest that things will be different this time.
The American attacker racked up 11.43 xG worth of chances in 46 appearances in the second tier, but only found the back of the net nine times, which shows that he underperformed as a finisher.
Aaronson’s form against the top teams in the Championship also left a lot to be desired and illustrates why he is not ready to make the step up to the Premier League.
Bristol City (A)
0
0
Burnley (H)
0
0
Sunderland (A)
0
0
Sheffield United (H)
0
0
Coventry (H)
0
0
Coventry (A)
0
0
Burnley (A)
0
0
Sunderland (H)
0
0
Sheffield United (A)
0
0
Bristol City (H)
0
0
As you can see in the table above, the 24-year-old dud did not deliver a single goal or assist in ten matches against the other teams inside the top six by the end of the regular season.
These statistics, and his overall underperformance in front of goal, suggest that Leeds need more quality in that position ahead of the Premier League campaign, which is why they should swoop for one of their reported transfer targets – Gabriel Sara.
Leeds United's interest in Gabriel Sara
Journalist Graeme Bailey revealed earlier this month that the Galatasaray attacking midfielder is an option for Leeds United heading into the summer transfer window.
The left-footed wizard left Norwich City, after two years in England, to sign for the Turkish giants last summer, and the Whites are now looking at a possible deal to bring him back to the country.
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Speaking to LeedsUnitedNews, Bailey said: “He’s [Sara] on the radar. Leeds have looked at him. You know, they knew all about him at Norwich, etc. He was fantastic. He’s not going to be cheap. We know that. But he’s an option out there.”
Sara is reportedly valued at €40m (£33m) by Galatasaray, amid interest from Aston Villa as well, and it remains to be seen whether or not the Whites would be willing to pay that much money for the Brazilian dynamo.
Farke, however, must push the 49ers to strike a big-money transfer agreement for the Super Lig star, because he could be the German manager’s own version of Florian Wirtz at Elland Road.
Why Gabriel Sara could be Leeds United's Florian Wirtz
Whilst Sara would not come in as a bona fide European superstar like the German sensation, or as a £100m+ addition, he could be the club’s own mini-version of Wirtz.
Like the Leverkusen wizard, the former Norwich City star is a versatile attacking midfielder, who can play in central midfield or off the left flank, and has the ability to contribute with goals and assists on a regular basis.
During his time in the Championship with the Canaries last season, Sara proved that he can deliver Wirtz-esque numbers in the final third from a central or attacking midfield role.
As you can see in the graphic above, the Brazilian star would come in as a massive upgrade on Aaronson when you consider their respective returns at the top end of the pitch, particularly their goals-to-xG ratios.
Sara, who was hailed as “outstanding” by former boss David Wagner, proved that he can score wonderful goals and make a big impact at the top end of the pitch on a regular basis, just as Wirtz has done for Leverkusen.
The 25-year-old star’s performances for Norwich earned him a move to Turkish giants Galatasaray, and he has helped them to win the league in his first year at the club.
Appearances
30
Goals
2
Big chances created
12
Key passes per game
2.3
xA
7.62
Assists
8
As you can see in the table above, his goalscoring form has dropped off for Galatasaray, but he has retained his exceptional creative qualities, creating 12 ‘big chances’ this season.
Now, if Leeds can get him back to his goalscoring best to go along with his creative skills, then they could have their answer to Florian Wirtz by signing an attacking midfielder with the potential to hit double digits for goals and assists respectively, as Sara did for the Canaries in the 2023/24 campaign.
It is now down to Farke and the 49ers to convince the impressive star to make the switch to Elland Road to bolster their squad in the summer window.
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