Leeds United ultimately didn't bring in any senior players in the January transfer window but it wasn't for lack of trying.
The Whites had two bid bids for Brenden Aaronson turned down by Red Bull Salzburg and it has been suggested that the club like the player so much that they didn't move on another midfielder as they hope to make another attempt to buy him in the summer.
Meanwhile, they have also been linked to Aaronson's old coach at Salzburg in Jesse Marsch, suggesting that there could be a possibility for a reunion in the summer.
That's because according to reports, the American coach is seen as Leeds' number one choice to succeed Marcelo Bielsa, should the club or the Argentine decide that this summer is the right time to bring his chapter at Elland Road to a close.
The club's pursuit of Aaronson - as well as links to Marsch - make clear that the philosophy for the future will continue to be focused on playing a fast, pressing style of football and the two have both spoken about this way of playing in the past.
Marsch was the head coach of RB Salzburg at the time that the Austrian club signed Aaronson from Philadelphia Union in MLS and the 49-year-old said at the time:
"He’s gotten better and better each game. I think he understands our philosophy of football.
"He’s very aggressive, he runs all day, he’s clever on the ball. He does all the things that we like in a player."
This suggests that marrying up the club's top transfer target with a coach they already know likes the player as much as Bielsa is said to have done when presented him in January, makes a lot of sense.
In fact, Aaronson himself has spoken very highly of being coached by Marsch.
"I’ve learned so much [under him]. Jesse’s a fantastic coach for me," Aaronson told the Tactical Manager Clips Youtube channel.
"He’s very open, very tactical, does film sessions with you. He teaches you other things.
"Formation wise, for me it’s been four or five formations. He likes trying things and I like that.
"He’s definitely a pressing coach and that’s what he’s really focussed on."
He also spoke about Marsch's favoured 4-2-2-2 formation and how it suited his play, saying, "In the 4-2-2-2 I’ve been one of the narrow wingers/10s. I really enjoy it. It gives me freedom to roam around and find the game sometimes."
