Emi Buendia to Leeds United talked up as reporter shares why he thinks deal will happen

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Leeds United and Aston Villa may both be ready to sit down and discuss Emi Buendia, but a willingness from both parties does not make things any simpler.

Far from it.

As football correspondent Graeme Bailey exclusively tells Leeds United News, the Championship leaders and the Premier League giants are engaging in a bit of brinksmanship as the business end of the transfer window approaches.

Aston Villa boss Unai Emery is giving little away. But the fact that Emi Buendia has not started a Premier League game all season – he has averaged six minutes on the pitch across 11 substitute appearances – does little to suggest that the Argentina international is a key part of the Spaniard’s plans.

As for Leeds United, while the chance to reunite with Buendia obviously appeals to Daniel Farke, the Yorkshiremen are reluctant to show their hand in the hope that Villa’s poker face slips in the build-up to deadline day.

Aston Villa want obligation-to-buy clause in Emi Buendia’s Leeds United deal

“Leeds are playing the long game with him,” Bailey explains. “The longer it goes on in the window, the more chance they will have of getting him.

“They like him, no secret in that. They see Buendia as that extra little spark to get them over the line.”

Bailey explains that Aston Villa want an obligation-to-buy clause in Buendia’s contract. As such, if Leeds were promoted, they would be locked into signing Aston Villa’s £30 million benchwarmer on a permanent basis regardless of how Farke’s former Norwich City playmaker performs between now and June.

Given Buendia’s lack of recent match action – he missed a year of action between 2023 and 2024 due to an ACL rupture – Leeds may prefer a more low-risk solution. An ‘option-to-buy’ rather than an obligation.

“Villa would like an obligation if Leeds get promoted. It’s something Leeds are thinking about. It’s how much does Farke want Buendia and that will tell us everything,” Bailey adds. “[Farke] sees Buendia as part of his Premier League plans.

“That will be the question asked of Farke now by the Leeds hierarchy; ‘Do you genuinely see Buendia [as a long-term signing]? We’re not going to pay massive wages, which is what he is on and a loan fee, just for a few months if you don’t see him as part of the Premier League plans’.

“Villa are insisting on an obligation now. Whether they still do come the last week of the window [remains to be seen].”

Leeds more likely than Valencia to sign Aston Villa benchwarmer

Leeds do have the advantage of knowing that, from Aston Villa’s perspective, Elland Road is their preferred destination for Buendia.

Spanish strugglers Valencia would struggle to finance his £75,000-a-week wages, while Buendia has little interest in returning to Argentina with River Plate.

“Villa would like him to go to Leeds instead of Spain because of his wages, what they can get covered. Villa aren’t forcing him away, but they will be pushing him to Leeds. Valencia haven’t got the finances to rival Leeds.

“One to keep an eye on. I can see it happening. If it doesn’t happen, then it tells us Leeds don’t see him as part of the [long-term] plans. But I would foresee him join with an obligation. If you bring him in and it gets [promotion[ over the line, from what I’m hearing there is a good chance they will do it.

“They are playing the long game and believe they will get a better deal the longer they leave it. There’s a real interest there. They really want him.”

Leeds’ strategy may be deemed a little ‘high-risk’. But at a time in which their promotion rivals are making some big splashes – Sheffield United will boost their frontline immeasurably with Tom Cannon and Ben Brereton Diaz while Sunderland brought in Roma loanee Enzo Le Fee – Buendia would represent a firm statement of Leeds’ own intent.

An alternative to the Aston Villa number ten may have already been sounded out, meanwhile.

Leeds United have a ‘concrete’ interest in Alvyn Sanches of Swiss outfit Lausanne Sport, according to reporter Ben Jacobs. Sanches does not have Buendia’s proven Championship record, of course, but the 21-year-old is younger, cheaper, and certainly fitter.