"Will be back in": Phil Hay drops behind-scenes Leeds update that'll have fans excited - opinion

The Athletic’s Phil Hay has delivered an update on Leeds United’s transfer pursuit of RB Salzburg starlet Brenden Aaronson.

Initially writing on Twitter, he revealed: “Leeds United will be back in for Brenden Aaronson. @MarkCarey93 and I took a close look at how the land lies: Strong pressing stats, Comparisons drawn with Klich, Leeds confident their pitch will work, Salzburg more open to selling in the summer.”

In a subsequent article for The Athletic looking at the deal in greater depth, he added: “The offers from Elland Road last month started at £15m and rose to £20m a few days later but the message from the perennial Austrian champions at the end of December — that their squad would remain intact throughout January — held firm.

“Leeds deduced from Salzburg’s unresponsive state that there was no point in returning with a third bid. The club decided in advance of Monday night’s deadline that they would try again for the US international midfielder in the summer.

“Leeds are optimistic that detailed plans for him and the unequivocal message about their interest in him last month will allow them to control the race, provided they meet Salzburg’s valuation.”

With reports suggesting that Marcelo Bielsa turned down opportunities to sign the likes of Donny van de Beek and Harry Winks respectively, it’s clear that the Leeds boss has his way of working and wants his players to fit his mould rather than the other way around.

The fact the Whites went in with two bids for Aaronson, and are now set to be back in for him in the summer transfer window, is a real indication of just how badly they want him and how well the midfielder would fit into Bielsa’s plans at Elland Road.

The Leeds boss has already shown that he won’t just sign