Leeds United’s search for a No.10 extended until the penultimate day of the transfer window, when Daniel Farke’s team was unable to find a replacement for Brenden Aaronson.
Last week, Farke compared Aaronson to Zinedine Zidane, before the USA player assisted Joel Piroe to score against Cardiff. Leeds failed to replace Georginio Rutter.
Several players were connected with Leeds during the transfer window to fill the gap in the no.10 position. Gustavo Hamer, for example, and Roland Sallai.Emi Buendia, linked to Leeds, scored his first goal in 18 months for Villa this week.
Leeds will need Aaronson to provide a creative spark until January, since Piroe and Wilfried Gnonto have been utilised as no.10 in Daniel Farke’s 4-2-3-1 formation this season.
Leeds attempted to sign a player who now plays for Manchester City. Pep Guardiola has explained why he blocked the player’s loan or permanent transfer during the summer window.
Pep Guardiola says why he blocked Leeds signing James McAtee
After the transfer window closed, Angus Kinnear revealed Leeds’ interest in James McAtee. Earlier in the summer, Leeds were linked with a move for McAtee for a staggering fee of £20 million.
Guardiola gave McAtee his first start of the season on Tuesday night, as City beat Watford in the Carabao Cup. In an interview with Manchester Evening News, he explained why he decided to keep McAtee.
“It is tough to find players with a feeling of goal in tiny spaces who can assault the final third, and McAtee possesses that ability. That’s why I told Txiki [Begiristain] I don’t want to loan or sell him.
“I require his unique ability in confined spaces. James possesses this skill. I had to witness them, and the first games I didn’t like very much, so I told him afterwards, ‘Your impact in the game isn’t big, I want more.’
“After that, he performed admirably and made a significant impression. His time at Sheffield United taught him a lot about giving value and suffering in order to gain points, physicality, and the ability to win duels. It was extremely beneficial for him to play there.
McAtee’s Championship stats prove he would be great for Leeds
Before this season, McAtee was on loan at Sheffield United for two years, first in the Championship and then in the Premier League. He appeared for the Blades under Paul Heckingbotton and later Chris Wilder.
| Season at Sheffield United | League | Apps | Goals | Assists |
| 2022-23 | Championship | 43 (27 starts) | 9 | 4 |
| 2023-24 | Premier League | 33 (21 starts) | 5 | 4 |
McAtee would have cost £20 million, which may have been too costly given Leeds’ status in the second division. However, a loan to Leeds in the Championship would have been a fantastic signing for Farke.
However, given McAtee’s performance in the Premier League last season, going to the Championship seemed an improbable scenario and considered as a step back for the England U21 ace, who Guardiola was anxious to keep.
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