Daniel Farke will be fuming with Aston Villa’s cheeky request for Leeds United target Emi Buendia

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Now a Premier League side, Leeds United might find themselves being priced out of certain transfers, or high-balled, especially given the news of their incredible summer transfer budget.

Leeds United won the Championship title last season, returning to the Premier League after a somewhat testing two years in the Championship under Daniel Farke.

But all is well now and fans are looking forward to the new season. Leeds United play Everton on the opening day of the 2025/26 season on August 19th, leaving Farke with just under two months to prep his side in time for the new campaign.

Already, Leeds United have signed Lukas Nmecha on a free transfer. The striker becomes the club’s first signing of the whole year, and his arrival was quickly followed up by the news that Jaka Bijol is set to join Leeds United from Udinese, with an announcement thought to be imminent now.

Who makes the move to Elland Road next remains to be seen. But there are certainly irons in the fire and we could see Farke spend big on another couple of players, with reports that Leeds United have a £150million transfer budget for this summer’s transfer window.

And one player he likes is Emi Buendia at Aston Villa.

• READ MORE: What Daniel Farke is telling Patrick Bamford about his Leeds United future after Lukas Nmecha signing

Leeds United handed worrying update on Emi Buendia’s price tag

Buendia’s links to Leeds need no introduction. Farke is keen to reunite with his former Norwich City star and he could do so this summer, with Buendia looking set to leave Aston Villa after a loan spell in Germany. Bayer Leverkusen turned down the chance to sign Buendia in what would’ve been a £16.7million deal, despite the Argentine scoring twice in 11 Bundesliga games.

Recent reports revealed how Aston Villa will sell Buendia for £20million this summer. But contrasting reports have suggested that the fee could eventually rise up to the £30million mark. CaughtOffside report that Villa ‘may attempt to drive the fee up closer to £30 million’ if there’s enough competition to do so.

So far this summer, Leeds have been the team most closely linked with a move for the 28-year-old Buendia, who Farke sold to Aston Villa back in 2021 in a £33million, which was a club record deal for Villa at the time.

• READ MORE: Leeds United have until July 15th to trigger Serie A star’s £24m release clause as Aston Villa ‘join the race’

The latest on Brenden Aaronson’s future at Leeds United, and links to James McAtee

Buendia would certainly be a marquee signing for Leeds. Farke knows exactly how to get the best out of him and he’d surely come in and take that no.10 spot straight away, which would be bad news for Brenden Aaronson.

Following promotion, it’s reported that Aaronson is considering his future at Leeds United. He’s understood to have interest from elsewhere in Europe and if Buendia signs, along with another no.10, it might be best for Aaronson to move on.

And another Buendia-type player linked with a move to Elland Road this summer is James McAtee. There’s news on the link, too. TalkSPORT reporter Alex Crook has recently revealed that McAtee is stalling on a contract offer from Man City and that he’s expected to leave the Etihad this summer.

Farke might well have to choose between Buendia and McAtee. But a big signing in that no.10 role seems inevitable at Leeds United this summer.