EXCLUSIVE: Player Leeds almost signed last summer is available again for £10m with Daniel Farke yet to solve position problem, should club move for him?

One of Leeds United’s biggest transfer disappointments of last summer looks set to be on the market again.

The Whites were one of the highest spenders in the division during the 2023 transfer window and were certainly ambitious in some of the names they were targeting.

The likes of Cameron Archer, Gustavo Hamer and Max Aarons were all looked at, but due to Premier League interest they were unable to get deals done. Leeds have already shown they are willing to spend fairly big to secure their top targets this time around, with the £10 million capture of Joe Rodon earlier this month.

Aside from Rodon, it has been another slow start to the window at Elland Road but with the major international tournaments coming to an end this weekend, and teams now back in pre-season, hopefully things pick up soon.

Right-back is certainly a position which requires strengthening this summer, irrespective of whether Rasmus Kristensen is brought back into the fold, with his future still undecided. Leeds do hold an interest in re-signing former loanee Connor Roberts, but so far there has been no real progress made on that.

Archie Gray, Roberts, Jamie Shackleton and Luke Ayling were options at right-back for Daniel Farke last season but have all already left the club this summer, leaving them very short. One right-back Leeds did look at this time last year was Max Aarons, someone who Farke knows very well from his time at Norwich City.

Leeds came extremely close to signing Aarons after a £12 million deal was struck with Norwich, with the 24-year-old even having travelled up to Elland Road for a medical until an 11th hour hijack from Bournemouth.

However, according to BBC Sport, Aarons could well be available for less than that figure this summer with Bournemouth having slapped a £10 million asking price on his head.

Play-off final winners Southampton had been interested but after seeing a £6 million offer rejected, have opted to look elsewhere.

Aarons is a proven performer at this level having twice won the Championship title under Farke at Carrow Road. Due to a combination of injuries and the form of others, Aarons did not enjoy an overly successful season on a personal level at Bournemouth, which is why he could be available again.

Despite the rejection last summer, returning for him again feels like a no brainer. He knows Farke’s system, is very attack-minded, and has a lot of pace, which is what Leeds need in that position.

Though some may find it difficult to welcome him to the club after his snub 12 months ago, it isn’t something that should come into Leeds’ thinking because of how good he is at this level. It would be great if they went back in for him.