Leeds had to face a tough reality when preparing for this season: players no longer wanted to join the club based on their league position.
The Premier League’s pull is enormous right now, and being in the Championship puts you at a significant disadvantage when attempting to bring in such players.
Leeds appeared to be on the verge of completing an ambitious signing under Daniel Farke in August, with Max Aarons moving to West Yorkshire from Norwich City in a deal worth a reputed £7 million (up to £12 million).
A physical was arranged for the former Farke favourite to sign at Elland Road when the right-back learned of Premier League interest from Bournemouth, quickly leaving the man who gave him his professional debut and travelling to the South Coast.
It sparked a fairly angry reaction from the Leeds fans, who had their fury channelled at the Cherries throughout the month, after Tyler Adams and Luis Sinisterra headed their, as well as long-term managerial target Andoni Iraola being appointed previously.
His move isn’t panning out in the way he expected so far, though, with Bournemouth winless in the Premier League thus far alongside Sheffield United, while Aarons is struggling at the back.
Bournemouth have the third worst defence in the league as things stand having conceded 18 in eight games, shipping seven in the last two against Arsenal and Everton.
WhoScored.com have now shared an XI of their lowest rated new signings across this season, where Aarons not only features, but is the lowest scorer of the lot:
We can’t just base everything from stats, especially WhoScored ratings, but Aarons isn’t looking too great at Bournemouth.
In general, the Cherries look like they could be in the midst of a real relegation battle this season and Iraola is under big pressure.
Whether he can handle it remains to be seen, but he is going to need to pick up results soon or potentially face big questions.
As for Aarons, maybe the Premier League move was worth it, but there won’t be sympathy if we ended up passing him on the way up.
