The 49ers have a great opportunity this summer at Leeds United.
With the Elland Road outfit closing in on Premier League survival in the week, those at Elland Road have a chance to spend and get more than just survival next season.
If they want to avoid the classic second season syndrome, they should just be less brutal.
Now is not the time for emotions. It's time to make some serious improvements before Daniel Farke has a Rodrigo replica on his hands.
Why Leeds need to avoid a Rodrigo repeat
To their credit, Leeds have spent well since returning to the Premier League. It seems that they have learned from the mistakes of the past, albeit difficult ones, and are reaping the rewards as a result.
|
Leeds United's most expensive signing ever |
||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Level |
The player |
Money |
Signed from |
A year |
|
1 |
Georginio Rutter |
£35.5m |
Hoffenheim |
2023 |
|
2 |
Brendan Aaronson |
£28.5m |
RB Salzburg |
2022 |
|
3 |
Rodrigo |
£26m |
Valencia |
2020 |
|
4 |
Dan James |
£25m |
Man Utd |
2018 |
|
5 |
Luis Sinisterra |
£21m |
Feyenoord |
2022 |
But it wasn't long ago that Rodrigo represented everything wrong with their recruitment model. While the Spaniard enjoyed some moments to remember, he lacked the consistency needed for the Whites to continue in the Premier League, especially for the £26m star.
For a player of his caliber, Leeds had every right to expect more. Rodrigo arrived after scoring 63 goals in 120 games and became the club's record signing at the time.
In terms of statement signings, he was there at the start of the 20/21 season and even enjoyed a solid debut campaign – scoring nine goals in all competitions.
It sums up Rodrigo's Leeds career that he was in the form of his life when some of his colleagues failed to match his level – enjoying his best campaign when they were relegated in 2022/23.
|
Rodrigo in Leeds |
Goals |
It helps |
|---|---|---|
|
2020/21 |
9 |
3 |
|
2021/22 |
6 |
1 |
|
2022/23 |
15 |
2 |
Alas, even in his best campaign, the former Valencia man failed to be consistent – scoring just three goals in his last 15 Premier League games when Leeds needed his quality more than ever.
In the end, his time in Yorkshire ended in great disappointment and now there is a good chance that another big-money star could follow in his footsteps.
£25m Aaronson is becoming the next Rodrigo
A big-money nine-man with all the quality in the world without change should sound familiar to those at Elland Road. These days, it's not Rodrigo in that role. Instead, it's Brenden Aaronson.
The American looked to have found his role when Farke changed his formation at the back five, adding a No.10 and occasionally a false nine alongside Dominic Calvert-Lewin – the perfect role for Aaronson.
As soon as the switch took place, the £25m star scored five goals and assisted two more in the next seven games, including a goal and an assist against Man United and Liverpool. He had finally found form in a Leeds shirt.
|
Aaronson from the system change |
||
|---|---|---|
|
Metric |
First 7 games |
Last 11 games |
|
Minutes |
456 |
825 |
|
Goals |
5 |
0 |
|
It helps |
2 |
1 |
Numbers do not make good reading. Like Rodrigo, Aaronson fails to make an impact at the business end of the season. Like Rodrigo, he is a consistent big-money striker. Compared to his first seven games, the attacking midfielder has failed to find a goal and concede a single goal in his last 11 Premier League games.
Unlike Rodrigo, he is very lucky to have an amazing team around him to complete the mission of survival. But that doesn't mean Farke can risk Aaronson in his side this summer.
The Leeds boss should show the struggling 25-year-old in pursuit of immediate improvement. The ball is in the 49ers' court this summer and they must use it to welcome significant reinforcements.
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Leeds United look set to enter the transfer window again this summer.
