Leeds United were desperate to sign a new no.10 in the summer but failed to do so, with Brenden Aaronson remaining the club’s only natural player for that position according to Daniel Farke.
Speaking a day ahead of the deadline, Farke made it clear that Leeds would look to enter the market if an opportunity to sign a new no.10 arose. But nothing materialised despite being linked with Roland Sallai.
Angus Kinnear has since given an interview after the end of the summer window and claims that Leeds were interested in a whole host of Premier League players able to play behind the striker, as a no.10.
Kinnear says that Man City’s James McAtee was considered but Pep Guardiola chose to keep him at The Etihad. Then, Fabio Carvalho too after Leeds missed out in January, but he joined Brentford for £27m.
Angus Kinnear says Leeds tried to sign Villa’s Emi Buendia
It has been a tough 12 months of Buendia. Bought by Villa for £40m, the Argentina star suffered an ACL injury a few days before the start of the 2023-24 season and is only just returning to action at Villa.
He’s played a couple of times this term after a successful pre-season in which he recovered from injury. He could easily have left Villa this summer, with Farke and Leeds trying to form a reunion with Buendia.
Angus Kinnear said that Buendia was on the list but he chose to reject a move to Elland Road and on Tuesday, the former Norwich star came off the bench for Villa to make his Champions League debut.
Buendia might still need a move away from Villa in January
The playmaker, who clocked up 51 goals and assists in 77 games for Norwich while in England’s second tier, came off the bench for the final minutes of Aston Villa’s 3-0 away win over Swiss side Young Boys.
Another step back to fitness for £82k-a-week Buendia but is being a fringe playerm getting the odd start and a few sub outings really going to allow the South American to recover from his injury and go again?
Would he not be better suited joining a team that desperately needs a no.10, one that plays attacking football and dominates in a league he knows, under a manager he knows? Leeds should stay vigilant.
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