Emi Buendia is the man on every Leeds United fan’s mind right now. Him joining and reuniting with Daniel Farke could yet be the difference between promotion and another season in the Championship for the Whites.
Leeds United are going strong in their quest for promotion to the Premier League. But there’s a long road ahead with 18 more games to play, with some real crunch matches along the way too.
Last time out, Leeds United beat Norwich City 2-0 to maintain their unbeaten start to 2025. Daniel Farke cruised past his former side, with Leeds having won back-to-back games now.
But it’s a player from his former club who Farke seems desperate to sign before February 3rd: Emi Buendia. Leeds United are linked with Buendia who’s fallen well out of favour at Aston Villa under Unai Emery.
Emery is open to letting Buendia leave during the January transfer window, but it seems like wages might be an obstacle. That, and it’s previously been reported that Buendia doesn’t want to play Championship football again.
Alan Nixon’s latest Emi Buendia verdict could be bad news for Leeds United
Alan Nixon has been on the pulse of this Buendia story. But The Sun reporter seems to think that Leeds’ pursuit of Buendia is an extremely ambitious one, perhaps overly-ambitious, suggesting that Buendia to Elland Road remains a highly unlikely deal.
To add more doubt to the move, it’s recently been revealed that Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s Besiktas want to sign Buendia as well. However, Buendia wants to stay in Europe should he leave Villa, so there remains a glimmer of hope for Leeds United.
Buendia shone for Norwich City during their 2020/21 promotion season under Farke. The 28-year-old scored 15 and assisted 16 more in 39 Championship outings, winning the Championship Player of the Season award.
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Awful ambitious target that one … looks a strong squad anyway … bar another centre half probably
— Alan Nixon (@reluctantnicko.bsky.social) 23 January 2025 at 11:55
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Daniel Farke’s Emi Buendia transfer hint at Leeds United
After Leeds United beat Sheffield Wednesday earlier in January, Farke was asked about Buendia and what the state of play was with regards to the Argentine.
Farke said of Buendia to Leeds United: “I don’t speak about any other player under contract at another club. Obviously I’ve worked with him for many years, I really rate him. I don’t comment on players on other clubs.”
Failing to rule out a move for his former Norwich City talisman, it seems clear that Buendia is a person of interest at Leeds, which several reports will back up.
But Nixon’s latest post on the topic reveals just how unlikely a deal for Buendia might still be. Whilst possible, of course, it’s going to be an extremely one to push through.
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