Chapter two is finished. Daniel Farke’s Leeds United achieved survival in their first season in the Premier League after the first chapter of the German’s story at Elland Road ended in promotion.
The former Norwich City chief made it clear at the end of the 2025/26 campaign that he had achieved everything that he set out to when he first joined the club in the summer of 2023, when the Whites were in the Championship.
Now, chapter three should be focused on pushing on and attempting to qualify for European competitions, which is why the club need to back him in the summer transfer window.
Leeds have already shown ambition by tying club captain Etham Ampadu down to a new four-year contract amid interest from other teams in the Premier League.
The next step for them this summer is to splash the cash on several new additions to the squad to raise the ceiling and aim higher up the table next season.
Leeds are leading the race to sign LaLiga forward
One of the players who could be moved on from as part of a wave of fresh recruits is USA international Brenden Aaronson, who scored four goals and provided five assists in 37 appearances in the Premier League this season.
He failed to score in his last 21 appearances for the Whites in the second half of the campaign, and the club are now eyeing a star who could take his place in the team next term.
According to SportsBoom, Leeds United are one of the teams interested in a deal to sign Barcelona forward Roony Bardghji in the upcoming summer transfer window.
The report claims that the Whites are leading the race to sign the Sweden international because they have been keeping tabs on him for a long time and have an attractive sporting offer for the player.
However, it adds that Aston Villa, Brentford, Brighton, Everton, and Sunderland are also considering moves for the winger, which means that there will be plenty of competition for his signature.
SportsBoom reveals that Barcelona are prepared to cash in on the 20-year-old talent and that an offer of around £22m could be enough to secure his services in the coming weeks.
Why Leeds United signing Roony Bardghji is bad news for Brenden Aaronson
The club’s reported interest in signing Bardghji this summer should come as bad news to Aaronson, because the young forward could take the American’s place in the starting XI.
Since the switch to a 3-4-2-1 formation, the USA international has typically played in the right-sided number ten position behind Dominic Calvert-Lewin, with Noah Okafor on the left side when available.
Bardghji only started seven of his 21 appearances in the Spanish top-flight for Barcelona this season, due to having Lamine Yamal and Raphinha as competition for a starting berth, but he still produced impressive per 90 numbers in LaLiga.
The Swedish wing wizard was far more creative than Aaronson, creating 0.73 more chances per 90 on average, and offered much more quality as a dribbler, with almost three times as many successful dribbles per 90.
Whilst he did not get too many opportunities to start in the league for Barcelona, Bardghji did show off his quality in the Supercopa in January, with one goal, four chances created, and two assists in a 5-1 win over Athletic Club.
The £22m-rated star also showed flashes of quality in the Champions League for the Spanish giants, with one ‘big chance’ created and one assist in five appearances in the competition.
Bardghji, who was described as a “game changer” by U23 scout Antonio Mango, could flourish with more opportunities to play week-in-week-out at Elland Road, as a right-sided ten who can cut in on his left foot.
His form for Barcelona in limited minutes suggests that he has the potential to be even more effective than Aaronson has been for Leeds, given his return of two goals and four assists in ten starts in all competitions.
The club’s interest in the LaLiga forward should, therefore, come as bad news to the American attacking midfielder, who could find game time hard to come by in the Premier League next season if Bardghji comes in to take his spot in the starting XI on a regular basis.
