Daniel is an experienced football journalist and editor at Football FanCast with over a decade of experience covering the EFL, Scottish football and the wider professional game. Since beginning his career in 2015, he has developed extensive expertise in data-led analysis and original football features.  

Daniel began his career at Fresh Press before writing and editing for publications including Read Norwich, Read Celtic and Anfield Watch. Throughout his career, he has interviewed football figures including Liverpool goalkeeping coach John Achterberg, former striker Adebayo Akinfenwa and journalist Fabrizio Romano.

Since joining Football FanCast, Daniel has contributed as both a writer and editor. His specialist knowledge has also seen him contribute to BBC Norfolk and assist DAZN with commentary research. A Norwich City season-ticket holder, he combines professional reporting experience with first-hand knowledge of the English and Scottish games.

Leeds United head coach Daniel Farke believes that he does not have the individual quality that he needs to create an effective and consistent attack at Premier League level.

Speaking ahead of the club's clash with Tottenham Hotspur this weekend, the German boss explained that the Whites have not been able to spend enough money to have the individual talent that other teams have in their attacks.

Given that the West Yorkshire outfit have only spent a transfer fee on one attacker, Noah Okafor, since they came up from the Championship, it is hard to disagree with his assessment.

Too many of the players who came up from the second tier have not been able to deliver consistent quality in the final third, such as attacking midfielder Brenden Aaronson.

The role Brenden Aaronson should play for Leeds

The issue that Leeds currently have with the USA international is that he is one of the frontline options in the attack, as evidenced by his 33 starts in 45 appearances in the Premier League since the start of last season.

In those 33 starts, the 26-year-old number ten has only produced four goals and five assists in the top-flight, and has yet to deliver a single goal or assist in eight outings in the current campaign.

All four of those goals came by the end of January earlier this year, too, which means that Aaronson has gone around ten months without scoring a league goal for Farke's side.

With this in mind, the American midfielder's role within the squad, at best, should be as a rotation player who can offer energy and pressing off the bench, so that Leeds are not hampered by his lack of quality as a regular starter.

Leeds preparing move for £13m attacker

Farke noted the lack of individual quality in his attack in his pre-match press conference, and there are already moves being made behind the scenes to change that.

According to Footen France, Leeds United are one of the teams interested in a deal to sign AS Monaco centre-forward Mika Biereth in the January transfer window.

The report claims that the 49ers and Bournemouth are both preparing moves to land the Dane, who could be allowed to move on after struggling for minutes this season.

It does not state how much Monaco are ready to demand for the number nine, but they agreed a deal of roughly £13m for his services when they signed him from Sturm Graz in January 2025.

How Biereth can end Aaronson's Leeds career

If the Whites can beat the Cherries to his signature in the January transfer window, the Denmark international could be the player who ends Aaronson's career at Elland Road.

The London-born marksman has fallen out of favour at Monaco this season, playing 57 minutes in Ligue 1, but his form in the past suggests that the potential is there for him to be an exciting addition to the squad.

Prior to a return of five goals and two assists in the 2025/26 campaign, Biereth enjoyed a sensational first six months with the French side after moving from Sturm Graz at the start of 2025, and was dubbed "outrageous" by U23 scout Antonio Mango.

A self-proclaimed striker who is "like Haaland", the 23-year-old star racked up 21 goals and 'big chances' created combined in 16 starts in Ligue 1 for Monaco, which speaks to the quality and consistency that he can provide when he is at his best.

"Like Haaland, all I really care about is scoring goals. If you’d offer me two touches of the ball and two goals I’d take that. For me, it’s all about scoring goals. [But] there are different aspects of the game when scoring goals isn’t possible when the ball is deep so then it’s about combining, linking the play, holding the ball up like Kane does. Those are the two different variables on the pitch" - Biereth.

Biereth scored more top five league goals (13) in those 16 games than Aaronson has in his entire career (seven), and that is why he could arrive at Elland Road as a huge upgrade on the American.

His return of 23 goals in 47 games for Sturm Graz and six goals and five assists in 14 matches on loan at Motherwell in the Premiership add further evidence to support his quality in front of goal.

Whilst Biereth is a centre-forward by trade, the Danish attacker has played 29 games in his career as a winger or as a number ten, which suggests that he could operate as one of the dual number ten options behind Dominic Calvert-Lewin.

Therefore, the former Arsenal and Fulham youngster could take Aaronson's place in the team in one of those roles, leaving the American to consider his future at Elland Road due to the lack of game time that Biereth's arrival could result in.