Full-back is one of three positions that Leeds United are looking to fill in the final seven days of the transfer window.
While much of the attention has been on who will be joining Leeds to enhance the midfield and final third, it cannot be overstated how essential it is to find another good option at the back.
Jayden Bogle and Junior Firpo are both top choices right now, but both have a history of injuries. The latter, of course, missed nearly the entire first part of the 2023-24 season.
Sam Byram, Leeds’ only backup to Bogle and Firpo, is another injury prone player, therefore anyone who comes in must be capable of filling in immediately.
Links to Wolves’ Hugo Bueno imply Leeds are searching for a left-back, but Byram’s ability to cover both sides means it doesn’t matter which side the new player likes to play on.
Leeds planning a move for Bournemouth’s Max Aarons.
Daniel Farke revealed after the draw with West Brom that Jayden Bogle has had a difficult start to life at Leeds, but as a £5 million signing, he will not be discarded anytime soon.
Bogle remains a top player at this level, and he has demonstrated in both games what he can bring in the last third; he simply needs time to settle.
However, according to journalist Pete O’Rourke, Leeds are ‘readying a move’ for a player who may offer Bogle with some serious competition in his position.
O’Rourke stated on Twitter that Leeds now want to sign Max Aarons on loan from Bournemouth, where he has slid down the pecking order.
Adam Smith, who has been with the club for a long time, has already surpassed him, while Julian Araujo has recently joined from Barcelona, making Aarons third choice.
Southampton had a permanent deal knocked down earlier in the window, but with Araujo’s arrival, he may now be available, with Leeds considering a loan.
Leeds were hours from signing Aarons.
Aarons was also on Leeds’ list of objectives last summer, and they were just hours away from signing him until Bournemouth jumped in.
Leeds signed a £12 million fee with Norwich City, and Aarons traveled to Elland Road for a physical before deciding to join the Premier League at the last minute.
Aarons is, of course, well-known to Daniel Farke, having spent the biggest part of his career under his tutelage at Norwich.
If Leeds confirm their interest, the opportunity to relaunch his career under Farke may be appealing.
