Spanish star Pablo Hernandez remains a fan-favourite at Leeds United and understandably so given the impact he had during his time as a player at Elland Road.
He originally joined the Whites on loan for the first half of the 2016/17 season from Swansea City before subsequently joining permanently that January – a move that would set the club up for success.
The now-retired Hernandez would make over 150 appearances for the Whites, cementing his place as a regular at the heart of the side – registering over 10 combined goals and assists every year he spent in Yorkshire, including the promotion-winning season in 2019/20.
The former Valencia ace would depart in the summer of 2021 on a free transfer, ending his four-year spell with the Whites, with very few players able to replicate his success in recent years.
One player, in particular, has struggled, with current boss Daniel Farke needing to take desperate action when the transfer window opens in a couple of months time.
Brenden Aaronson’s stats for Leeds in 2024/25
After joining for £25m in the summer of 2022, huge expectations were put on the shoulders of Brenden Aaronson to be a star for Leeds, but ultimately, nearly three years on he’s failed to live up to the hype.
The American international featured 42 times during the club’s most recent Premier League campaign, before leaving on loan to join Union Berlin for the 2023/24 season.
However, he’s since returned to the Whites, looking to play a crucial role in Farke’s ambitions of securing Championship promotion come the end of May.
Whilst he’s notched eight goals and two assists, only one of which has come since the start of January, often being anonymous in key matches and failing to deliver the goods.
Given his recent decline in form, it’s unclear whether the 24-year-old has the tools to succeed in the Premier League, with Farke needing to axe him from his side and repeat a deal for Hernandez this summer.
How Farke can repeat Hernandez success with Leeds this summer
Leeds boss Farke has done a superb job in managing the first-team since his appointment in the summer of 2023, helping the club sit in top spot with just eight games to go.
The German has achieved a 57% win record since taking the reins, doing an excellent job in picking the club up after dropping into the second tier ahead of the 2023/24 campaign.
He’s made shrewd additions during his time in charge, including that of midfielder Joe Rothwell, who arrived on loan from top-flight outfit Bournemouth last summer.
The 30-year-old had to bide his time before making an impact in Yorkshire, often having to settle for minutes off the bench to make an impression.
However, in recent months, the former Blackburn Rovers star has cemented his place at the heart of the side, partnering Ao Tanaka at the base of the midfield.
Games played
35
Goals & assists
4
Pass accuracy
92%
Chances created
57
Dribble success
67%
Tackles won
60%
Touches
1978
Arguably, Rothwell, who’s previously been dubbed “special” by Tony Dorigo, produced his best showing against Sunderland, producing two assists and helping the side turn around a one-goal deficit.
On the face of it, a Hernandez repeat may appear to be a bit of a stretch, but the Englishman has followed in the Spaniard’s footsteps by originally moving on loan to Elland Road and impressing in the process.
If the club are to repeat a deal for the fan-favourite, they must look to pursue a deal on a permanent basis, offering a quality squad option, whether that be in the top flight or the second tier.
His current deal at the Vitality expires in the summer of 2026, potentially allowing the Whites to secure a cut-price transfer with the star entering his final year of his contract.
Rothwell has showcased his talents with the added minutes provided by Farke, with the German desperately needing to get a deal done to allow the midfielder to continue on his upward trajectory.
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