Leeds United will return to Premier League action for the first time in over two years when they welcome Everton to Elland Road later this month.
The Whites won the Championship title with a staggering haul of 100 points in the 2024/25 campaign, as Daniel Farke won the division for the third time in four attempts.
Their promotion to the Premier League, though, means that some of the regular starters from the second tier season will not have what it takes to make the step up.
Brenden Aaronson started 43 of the club’s 46 Championship matches, scoring nine goals and providing two assists, for the German head coach last term.
The USA international only managed one goal in 36 appearances in the Premier League in the 2022/23 season for Leeds, though, which does not suggest that he is likely to make a significant impact this time around.
Farke needs to find the club’s next version of Georginio Rutter, who produced terrific quality in the Champ and has now stepped up to the top-flight with Brighton.
Why Leeds need the next Georginio Rutter
As aforementioned, Aaronson has not done enough at the top end of the pitch to suggest that he is going to win many points for Leeds with his play in the Premier League.
Rutter, on the other hand, scored five goals and provided three assists in 28 matches in the division for Brighton last season, to go along with three goals and one assist in four outings in the FA Cup.
The left-footed star joined the Seagulls for a club-record £40m fee last summer after he caught the eye with his performances for Leeds in the Championship in the 2023/24 campaign.
Expected Assisted Goals
0.29
Top 2%
Assists
0.39
Top 2%
Shot-creating actions
4.41
Top 2%
Progressive passes
4.46
Top 3%
Successful take-ons
3.06
Top 1%
Progressive carries
2.89
Top 5%
As you can see in the table above, Rutter was one of the most creative players in the second tier that season, as he consistently progressed play with passes and carries, and created plenty of high-quality opportunities for his teammates.
The French magician ended the campaign with a return of eight goals and 16 assists in all competitions for the West Yorkshire outfit, which shows that he was an incredibly creative force in the number ten role for Leeds.
Rutter was then able to make the step up to the Premier League with Brighton, scoring five times as many goals last term as Aaronson managed in his only season at that level.
This is why Farke needs to find his new version of the French number ten in the coming weeks, and a fresh report suggests that the club are looking to sign a player of that ilk.
Leeds submit bid to sign Championship star
According to journalist Sebastien Vidal, Leeds United have submitted a bid for Leicester City’s attacking midfielder Bilal El Khannouss, as they look to bolster their options at the top end of the pitch.
The reporter claims that a ‘serious’ offer has been made by the Whites, who have made their first move in an attempt to bring the Morocco international to Elland Road.
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Vidal adds that the Championship champions are also ‘pushing’ to sign Lecce centre-forward Nikola Krstovic, but there is no mention of a bid for the Montenegro international.
El Khannouss reportedly has a £22.5m release clause in his contract with Leicester, which was activated when they were relegated, but it remains to be seen whether or not this latest bid from Leeds matches that fee.
Instead of matching the release clause, the Whites may feel that they can negotiate a more favourable package, whether that is a lower overall fee or the £22.5m in more favourable terms.
Why El Khannouss could be the new Rutter for Leeds
Leeds could find their new Rutter in El Khannouss if they are able to convince the Foxes to part ways with the 21-year-old talent with this offer for his services.
The Moroccan played in a dismal Leicester team that got relegated from the Premier League last season, yet still managed to catch the eye with some impressive performances.
El Khannouss scored two goals and created eight ‘big chances’ in 27 starts in the top-flight, which shows that he can provide a Rutter-esque creative spark in the number ten position.
The Foxes youngster is also an incredibly progressive passer in midfield, much like the former Leeds man. He ranked within the top 14% of attacking midfielders and wingers in the Premier League last season for progressive passes per 90 (5.28) and the top 10% for passes into the final third per 90 (3.67).
This shows that the Morocco international is a forward-thinking player who is constantly looking to create dangerous attacks for his side by playing passes through the lines to put his teammates into good positions.
Appearances
28
32
xG
4.64
1.31
Goals
5
2
Big chances created
6
8
Assists
3
3
Progressive passes per 90
3.64
5.28
Passes into the final third per 90
1.63
3.67
As you can see in the table above, El Khannouss and Rutter performed at a similar level against their respective xG tally and both created a similar amount for their teams.
The Moroccan youngster, though, was far more progressive in his actions as a passer, with around two more progressive passes and passes into the final third per 90 on average, which suggests that he could move attacks on at a greater speed.
These statistics suggest that the Leicester star, who was described as a “fascinating” talent by journalist Graeme Bailey, could arrive at Elland Road as Farke’s new Rutter for the upcoming Premier League season.
Both players are creative number tens who have shown that they have what it takes to be effective players in the top-flight, which is why the Whites should be pushing to get a deal over the line for the Foxes ace in the coming days.
