NafisaLeeds United have already completed two major chapters under Daniel Farke. The first ended with promotion back to the Premier League, while the second concluded with the club successfully preserving their top-flight status despite facing a challenging campaign.
Now attention turns towards what comes next.
Simply surviving will no longer be enough for many around Elland Road. With stability restored and Premier League football secured, the focus is beginning to shift towards building a squad capable of competing much higher up the table and eventually challenging for European qualification spots.
That ambition has already started to show behind the scenes. Leeds recently secured a huge boost by convincing club captain Ethan Ampadu to commit his future to the club with a new long-term contract despite attracting attention from elsewhere in the Premier League.
However, retaining key players is only one piece of the puzzle.
The Whites know that genuine progress requires fresh quality, especially in attacking areas where consistency proved difficult to find throughout large parts of last season. Several positions are being assessed, and recruitment staff are already working through a shortlist of names capable of raising the ceiling of Farke’s squad.
Leeds are leading the race to sign LaLiga forward:
One player who could potentially find himself under increased pressure is USA international Brenden Aaronson.
The attacking midfielder ended the season with four goals and five assists from 37 Premier League outings, but his form dipped dramatically during the second half of the campaign.
In fact, Aaronson failed to find the net across his final 21 appearances of the season, leading to growing questions about whether Leeds may look to bring in stronger competition for his role.
According to SportsBoom, Leeds United are among the clubs interested in signing Barcelona forward Roony Bardghji during the summer transfer window.
The report claims the Yorkshire side are currently leading the race for the Swedish attacker after tracking his progress for an extended period and presenting an attractive sporting project.
Leeds are not alone in their admiration, though.
Aston Villa, Brentford, Brighton, Everton and Sunderland are all said to be monitoring the 20-year-old, meaning competition for his signature is expected to be fierce.
SportsBoom also reports that Barcelona are prepared to sanction his departure, with a bid in the region of £22 million potentially enough to complete a deal.
Why Leeds United signing Roony Bardghji is bad news for Brenden Aaronson:
Leeds’ pursuit of Bardghji could create a major headache for Aaronson heading into next season.
Since Farke shifted towards a 3-4-2-1 system, the American has frequently operated as the right-sided attacking midfielder behind Dominic Calvert-Lewin, often alongside Noah Okafor when available.
Bardghji, meanwhile, spent much of last season battling for opportunities behind elite competition at Barcelona, including Lamine Yamal and former Leeds favourite Raphinha.
As a result, he only started seven LaLiga matches, but his underlying numbers remained highly impressive.
The Swedish talent produced considerably stronger creative metrics than Aaronson, creating significantly more chances while also demonstrating far superior dribbling ability and one-versus-one quality.
Despite limited starts in Spain, Bardghji still delivered notable moments. In January’s Supercopa clash against Athletic Club, he registered a goal, created four chances and supplied two assists in a dominant 5-1 victory.
He also showcased glimpses of his talent in the Champions League, contributing an assist and creating a big chance despite restricted playing time.
Previously described as a “game changer” by U23 scout Antonio Mango, Bardghji possesses the profile of a player capable of thriving with regular football.
His ability to operate from the right before cutting inside onto his stronger left foot makes him an ideal fit for Leeds’ current setup.
Perhaps most importantly, his return of two goals and four assists from just ten starts across all competitions suggests there may be considerably more to come if handed consistent minutes.
For that reason, Leeds’ reported pursuit of the Barcelona youngster may not be welcome news for Aaronson.
Should Bardghji arrive at Elland Road this summer, the American could find himself facing an uphill battle to retain a regular starting spot as Leeds prepare for another demanding Premier League campaign.
Nafisa
