Leeds United are well on track to join Manchester City in the Premier League next season. And it could actually be quite a closely contested game.
Daniel Farke is eyeing up a third Championship title as manager, this time with Leeds United having twice achieved the feat with Norwich City.
On Monday night, he watched from the stands as Leeds United beat Sheffield United 3-1 at Bramall Lane, leaving the Whites with a five point buffer at the top of the Championship table.
Promotion is well within Leeds’ reach this season. But there’s still 12 tough games left to play including a game against 5th place West Brom at Elland Road on Saturday.
But it’s starting to feel like Leeds will be in the Premier League next season and they’ll once again have the chance to test themselves against some of the best teams and players in the world.
Right now though, reigning Premier League champions Man City are struggling. Pep Guardiola’s side are 20 points behind leaders Liverpool, sitting in 4th place and having also been knocked out of the Champion League.
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Man City and Bayer Leverkusen deal could open door for Emi Buendia to Leeds United
Whilst Leeds and City could be Premier League rivals next season, the Cityzens could actually come to Leeds United’s rescue where a transfer deal for Emi Buendia is concerned. Leeds United want to sign Buendia this summer having missed out on a deal for the Aston Villa man in January.
Buendia joined Bayer Leverkusen on loan. The German champions have a £16.7million option to buy Buendia in the summer, but it’s recently been revealed that Xabi Alonso’s no.1 summer target is Man City outcast James McAtee, who was also linked with Leeds United in January.
Now, Guardiola is considering a cash/swap deal for Leverkusen: McAtee for Florian Wirtz who’s valued at £125million, which could be a deal that could leave Buendia in the dark, given the fact that McAtee, who plays in the same position as Buendia, is Alonso’s preferred choice.
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What Xabi Alonso said about Emi Buendia after Bayer Leverkusen debut
Buendia has so far featured three times in the Bundesliga for Leverkusen, with all of his appearances coming off the bench.
On his debut, Buendia came on and later came back off. Giving his verdict on Buendia’s Bayer Leverkusen debut, Alonso said: “It was a shame, but I thought at that moment that we needed one more defender. He had a good influence on our game. He is a mature player.”
Not only is McAtee Leverkusen’s no.1 target, but it also looks like Buendia isn’t making too much of an impression at the club, which could see Buendia return to Villa Park in the summer where he’d surely be poised for another move, with Villa looking for bigger and better.
If Leeds can seal their return to the Premier League then a deal for Buendia could become very possible. The Farke connection with the former Norwich City man will also be key.
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