Brenden Aaronson makes Leeds United future admission ahead of uncertain summer

Brenden Aaronson admits his Leeds United future could not be further from his mind at present as he focuses on securing selection for the Copa America with the United States. The midfielder has been included in Gregg Berhalter's 27-man squad that will face Colombia and Brazil in friendlies over the next few days.

However, that squad will be trimmed down later this month for the Copa America and, having missed out initially on international selection back in March, Aaronson knows his place in the squad is far from guaranteed. As such, the Leeds man will be doing all he can to ensure he makes the final cut with the US hosting the tournament for the second time.

It comes at the end of what has been a testing campaign for the 23-year-old, having struggled to make the desired impact while on loan at Bundesliga outfit Union Berlin. Aaronson joined Union following Leeds' relegation from the Premier League last year and while he did make 38 appearances for the club, he was limited to just 15 starts, with two goals and two assists coming along the way.

It followed a difficult first season with the Whites and with Union confirming that they would not be making a move to sign Aaronson permanently his future looks somewhat uncertain. As it stands he is expected to report to Thorp Arch for pre-season training after an extended break, but what the future holds for Aaronson, who has another three years left to run on his Elland Road deal, remains to be seen.

“I’m just kind of focused on the national team and having my full responsibility here," Aaronson said after linking up with Berhalter's squad. "I’m not thinking about anything else, and that’s where my headspace is.

“I really enjoyed the end part of the season with Union, even though it was a bit of a relegation battle towards the end, but I got to play the last 10 games, that was really great for my development and for me.”

Indeed, the end of the Bundesliga season was a dramatic one for Union and Aaronson as they marginally evaded the German top flight's relegation play-off place with a final day win over Freiburg. Aaronson secured an assist in the game, setting up Benedict Hollerbach's opener, but Union required an injury time winner from Janik Haberer, after two missed penalties, to pick up the all important points and secure their spot in the German top flight.

The result ensured Aaronson avoided an unwanted second relegation in two seasons after failing to help keep Leeds in the Premier League.

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“I’m sure a lot of people were paying attention to the table,” Aaronson added on how his time with Union ended. “My parents were telling me that the live updates, every team just going up and down in moments. It was crazy.

"When I came off, it was 1-0. And so I thought it was pretty comfortable in that moment. But then of course, it’s never comfortable. [Freiburg] come down, they score and a lot of emotions came out of me. I don’t know what I was probably saying to the ref.

“It was a crazy way to end the season, but it was an amazing way and it felt really good. It felt like, yeah, just the whole weight off your shoulders.”

The US take on Colombia in the first of their pre-Copa America friendlies in Maryland on June 8, before facing Brazil on June 12 in Orlando, Florida.