If Daniel Farke could make one realistic addition to his Leeds United side over the course of the next few weeks in the January transfer window, it would surely be Aston Villa’s Emi Buendia.
Going into the window, Leeds could do with another body up top and as cover to Joe Rodon and Pascal Struijk. But Leeds do have numerous options in those positions, but only one player to play as a no.10.
Despite his up and down form, Brenden Aaronson has started 24 Championship games in a row largely because Leeds lack competition for the American. Georginio Rutter was never replaced in the summer.
That is despite Leeds being linked with Gustavo Hamer, James McAtee and plenty of other attacking midfielders. One option was a reunion between Farke and Aston Villa’s Buendia, but it didn’t materialise.
Leeds may have just received £18m help in Emi Buendia pursuit
Angus Kinnear said Buendia actually rejected Leeds. The Argentina international did not want to drop back into the Championship despite the possibility of a reunion with Farke and his lack of Villa game time.
A recent cruciate ligament injury has seen Buendia drop down the Villa pecking order Unai Emery, even if he remains a well-liked player among Villa fans. Now, Villa have made a move of their own in the window.
Indeed, The Telegraph report that Villa are close to announcing the £18m coup of Borussia Dortmund ace Donyell Malen. Another body in the final third that surely reduces Buendia’s chances of Villa game time.
Leeds may have to remain patient, but Buendia is still a possibility
While Malen is a player that can play on either flank or up top, it does mean that Villa have another body that will sit above Buendia in the pecking order. The signing frees up Morgan Rogers to play as a 10.
Combine that with the presence of Ross Barkley, Youri Tielemans, Jacob Ramsey, Leon Bailey and other no.10 options, Buendia is struggling to play. Buendia’s stance on Leeds is said to remain the same.
His 19-minute cameo against West Ham last Friday was the second-most amount of minutes he’s got all season even when Emery made changes. It may take a few weeks to convince, but he needs to leave.
And where better to get game time regularly than under the manager that oversaw the best form of his career, in a side that plays attacking football and with the chance to go and win the Championship?
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