Daniel Farke has struggled with the number 10 role since joining Leeds United. Currently, Brenden Aaronson has the role but has struggled to offer consistency and numbers.
However, Leeds’ lack of competition in attacking midfield has resulted in Brenden Aaronson starting the last 33 league games in a row. On Saturday, the American battled again as Leeds were unable to defeat West Brom.
Leeds United targeted Emi Buendía during the most recent transfer window. But the Argentina ace has joined Bayer Leverkusen on loan until the summer, with a permanent option worth around £20 million.
Others have also been linked. Gustavo Hamer of Sheffield United, Manchester City’s James McAtee, and many others have been linked, but Nadiem Amiri was the first no.10 mentioned during Daniel Farke’s tenure.
Nadiem Amiri impresses in Mainz’s upset win over Leipzig.
Leeds made a bid for Amiri in the summer of 2023. Excitement was high, with Amiri a Germany international who was a peripheral player at Buendia’s Leverkusen at the time – but Leeds were unable to complete the transfer.
Amiri joined Mainz permanently from Leverkusen in January 2024, and he is having a fantastic season thus far. Amiri is pushing Mainz into European football with nine goals and three assists, as well as captaining the club in a few games.
On Saturday, Mainz visited another member of RedBull’s football family in Leipzig. A difficult game with both teams vying for Europe, but Mainz stunned the Bundesliga giants with a 2-1 away victory.
Amiri was the match’s MVP, bringing Mainz level after Xavi Simons scored in the first minute. Amiri then provided an assist for the winner just before the hour mark, completing a stunning victory for Amiri’s Mainz team.
How close did Leeds United get to signing Nadiem Amiri?
It is widely known that Amiri visited Thorp Arch and met with the Leeds board. Given Amiri’s effort to travel to England on a private jet, many Leeds officials believed the deal was nearly complete.
However, Amiri returned after deciding not to join Leeds, despite the 49ers arranging a £5 million price with current champions Leverkusen. Amiri is a former teammate of Leeds’ most recent addition, Josuha Guilavogui.
A £5 million sum would not be enough to recruit Amiri right now, as his stock has risen following a difficult stint at Leverkusen. So much so, that Aston Villa expressed interest in Amiri in January.
