U.S. men’s national team and Red Bull Salzburg midfielder Brenden Aaronson has been successful during his time in Austria, but one of the English Premier League’s historic clubs is reportedly aiming to sway him away this January.
Leeds United recently submitted a bid of £15 million ($20.3 million) for Aaronson, but it was rejected by Red Bull Salzburg, according to a report from The Athletic. The Yorkshire club “remain intent” on signing Aaronson this month, according to the report.
Aaronson has been one of the most consistent USMNT players in Europe this year, helping Red Bull Salzburg to a current first place spot in the Austrian Bundesliga table. The 21-year-old has registered three goals and seven assists for Matthias Jaissle’s side in 26 combined appearances this season.
Red Bull Salzburg is heading into the Champions League Round of 16 against Bayern Munich on March 8 after finishing second in Group G. Aaronson played in all six UCL group stage games, totaling over 500 minutes of action in the European competition.
Aaronson’s success hasn’t just been at club level, with the New Jersey native excelling in his time with the USMNT. Aaronson totaled four goals and three assists during the 2021 calendar year, in addition to joining Tyler Adams as the only USMNT players to start every match of World Cup Qualifying.
Leeds United sits in 15th place in the EPL table with 22 points earned through 20 matches. Marcelo Bielsa’s squad has won back-to-back league matches for the first time this season, most recently using a Jack Harrison hat trick to defeat West Ham United 3-2.
Red Bull Salzburg remains on winter break in Austria, with its league schedule set to resume on February 11.
I read 2 articles reporting that after the Leeds united offers were denied AC Milan has stepped into negotiations. What would all of you (Fans here in the comment section) prefer? Leeds United or AC Milan? I think a move to AC Milan would be better. Tough league with great competition and talent, always top 10 in Serie A, and always a chance to play and advance in Champions League. If he would stay at Salzburg he would not have the same competition of being in a top 5 league. so that’s what i think how bout you guys?
Bad move unless the money is unreasonable. He’s going to RB Leipzig in the summer anyways, and Saltzburg are in the Champions league.
But Bielsa …
Absolutely agree. Leeds has a good chance to return to the Championship.
This
He’s playing 90 minutes in CL games and was instrumental in their passage from group stage.
Beach, serious question: do you think playing a few games a year in CL and the rest versus MLS/USL level teams is better than playing Premier League week in week out?
Master of the Obvious,
This season 21/22, Salzburg has played 6 UCL games:
Sevilla, 1-1 draw
Lille, 2-1 win
Wolfsburg, 3-1 win
Wolfsburg, 2-1 loss
Lillie, 1-0 win
Sevilla 1-0 win
They are doing well with 10 points, second place and will likely advance.
The USMNT is a tournament team not a league team so in a sense you could argue that the Champions League format is more relevant to Brenden as a World Cup player than the hilariously weak opposition of the Austrian BL.
On the other hand this run is not likely to continue much longer.
So is maybe 8-10 games of this per season going to challenge Brenden more than the white hot pressure of 38 + games with Leeds where every single minute, Brenden will be under pressure.
It’s a very different challenge.
Do you think Brenden will play as much with Leeds? Leeds are hit hard by injuries so Brenden could get a lot of chances early.
For his club career moving to Leeds makes a ton of sense since he seems like the kind of player who would fit right in. And it’s a definite step up.
Salzburg is Prep school. You go there to develop but you can’t stay long. And he’ll certainly make more money. There are lots worse places he could transfer to and he should certainly improve his game.
As for how it affects his USMNT career, he’ll be fine either way. He has no real challenger for PT. His development into a better player will happen at his club not the USMNT.
How definite is that? I thought that Marsch would take him to Leipzig when he went there at the beginning of the season, but he didn’t.
Maybe a summer transfer to a bigger league but not this window the main point. Integral piece to a knockout CL team, stay and go for it. Some guys never get the chance even. I get that the money matters too in the decision tho. Good on him to have earned this rating