Leeds transfer news: Major triple exit nears as attacker prepares to join UCL side in unbelievable upwards fall
Brenden Aaronson, Wilfried Gnonto and Robin Koch could all leave Leeds United
Leeds United are allowing Brenden Aaronson to leave on loan for Union Berlin, reports have revealed, and another attacker could follow him out of the Elland Road exit door.
Aaronson only joined Leeds last summer from Red Bull Salzburg, which allowed him to reunite with Jesse Marsch. However, it was an extremely tough campaign for the attacking midfielder and his new club.
Marsch was sacked in February, but Leeds were unable to reverse their downwards trajectory. Ultimately, they finished the season in the relegation zone.
Back in the Championship for next season, Leeds are likely to lose several players. Although Aaronson was not one of their better performers last term, he is one who could land on a much bigger stage – thanks in part to a relegation release clause that was recently revealed to be in his contract.
Sources such as The Athletic and ESPN are reporting that Aaronson will be joining Union Berlin on loan imminently. The move to the Bundesliga side will allow him to compete in the 2023-24 Champions League.
Aaronson will remain under contract at Leeds until 2027. He only scored once from 40 appearances in his first season for them.
Meanwhile, reports elsewhere are suggesting that someone else who arrived at Leeds in 2022 could be set for a premature exit.
Willy Gnonto is the player in question, having earned the admiration of the Leeds fans – if not necessarily their managers after Marsch – far more easily than Aaronson.
Gnonto scored four goals from 28 games for Leeds after joining them from FC Zurich. He too is under contract until 2027, but has top-flight suitors in England and his native Italy.
Everton and Aston Villa face Bundesliga competition for Gnonto
According to a recent update from SportItalia, the favourites to sign Gnonto are currently Everton.
However, Sean Dyche’s side face competition from Aston Villa, who would be able to offer Gnonto involvement in the Conference League. Villa are said to have already made their own approach as well.
Another contender for Gnonto could be Freiburg. In that case, he would be following Aaronson to the Bundesliga.
And a third Leeds player set to make a transfer to Germany is Robin Koch, who has chosen to join Eintracht Frankfurt on loan, per The Athletic.
The defender will be returning to his native country by making the move. He will also be able to participate in the Conference League as a result.
By joining Eintracht Frankfurt, Koch hopes to work his way into Germany’s squad for Euro 2024. There is a place in their starting lineup at centre-back up for grabs after the departure of Evan Ndicka on a free transfer to Roma.
Coincidentally, another Leeds defender, Diego Llorente, is due to re-sign for Roma themselves after an agreement was reached between the two clubs following his loan spell in the second half of last season, as detailed in Tuesday’s transfer gossip.
