£33m Leeds transfer target is bad news for Aaronson

Leeds United need to find ways of improving their offensive output if they want to compete for the European places come the end of the season.

The Whites have the third-best defensive record in the Premier League, having only conceded eight goals in ten matches, yet they are only ninth in the table.

REUTERS/Scott Heppell

Daniel Farke’s side are only ninth because they have failed to score in three games and only scored more than one goal in one of their outings, which was the 4-1 win over Newcastle United in September.

The upcoming January transfer window could be used to add more quality to the squad to ensure that the team does not struggle for goals in the second half of the campaign.

Why Leeds need to sign a number ten in January

Leeds need to sign an attacking midfielder when the next window opens for business because they have not had enough production from their options in that role this season.

After ten Premier League games, Noah Okafor, who is more of a winger than a traditional number ten, is the only player in those dual ten roles who has produced more than one goal contribution for the Whites.

The Switzerland international, who scored the winning goal in the game against Tottenham Hotspur before the international break, has offered more to the team than the likes of Brenden Aaronson and Harry Wilson.

Now, with the next window on the horizon, Farke should be looking to move on from players like Aaronson, due to their lack of impact, by bringing in new talent to replace them.

Farke eyeing star who can end Aaronson’s Leeds career

In fact, the former Norwich City head coach is already said to be looking at a player who could come in to end the American’s career at Elland Road.

According to Football Insider, Farke is plotting a move to sign Stuttgart attacking midfielder Bilal El Khannouss in the upcoming January transfer window.

The report claims that Leeds United were interested in his services after his spell with Leicester City in the 2024/25 campaign, but they missed out on a deal when he joined Stuttgart in the summer of 2025.

It adds that the Whites remain very keen on a move for the Morocco international and could swoop for him in January, whilst Sky Sports reporter Florian Plettenberg recently claimed that a fee of £33m would be needed to secure his services.

He has enjoyed a strong start to the 2026/27 Bundesliga campaign, scoring two goals and creating three ‘big chances’ in five starts for Stuttgart so far.

The Moroccan star’s impressive form in recent months comes after he racked up an impressive haul of nine goals and nine assists in all competitions last season, for Leicester and Stuttgart combined.

El Khannouss can arrive at Elland Road to end Aaronson’s career because he has the quality to offer more to the team in the final third, as evidenced by his output for Stuttgart since the start of last term.

Whilst the American midfielder has scored five goals and provided five assists in all competitions since the start of last season, the Stuttgart playmaker has racked up 11 goals and nine assists.

El Khannouss has also created 13 ‘big chances’ for his side in that time, compared to Aaronson’s nine, which is further evidence that he would join the club as an upgrade at the top end of the pitch.

On top of that, the 22-year-old talent scored two goals and created eight ‘big chances’ in 27 starts for Leicester in the Premier League in the 2024/25 campaign, showing that he already has experience in the English top-flight.

The £33m-rated attacking midfielder could be the answer to Leeds’ problems in the final third, given his haul of goals and assists with Stuttgart, and his arrival could spell the beginning of the end for Aaronson.

Farke would be able to sanction an exit for the USNMT star in January if Leeds sign El Khannouss, as he would not have to worry about a lack of depth in that area of the pitch.