If Daniel Farke could make one feasible addition to Leeds United’s squad in the coming weeks of the January transfer window, it would undoubtedly be Aston Villa’s Emi Buendia.
Leeds may use another body up top to provide protection for Joe Rodon and Pascal Struijk. However, Leeds has a plethora of choices in those positions, but only one player to play as a no.10.
Despite his fluctuating form, Brenden Aaronson has started 24 Championship games in a row, owing to Leeds’ lack of competition for the American. Georginio Rutter was never replaced during the summer.
That’s despite Leeds being linked with Gustavo Hamer, James McAtee, and a slew of other attacking midfielders. Farke and Aston Villa’s Buendia could have reunited, but it did not happen.
Leeds may have just received £18 million help in Emi Buendia pursuit.
According to Angus Kinnear, Buendia truly rejected Leeds. Despite the prospect of reuniting with Farke and a lack of Villa game time, the Argentina international refused to return to the Championship.
Buendia’s latest cruciate ligament injury has pushed him down Unai Emery’s Villa pecking order, despite remaining a popular player among Villa fans. Now, Villa has made their own move in the window.
According to The Telegraph, Villa are close to announce the £18 million signing of Borussia Dortmund’s Donyell Malen. Another body in the final third will undoubtedly diminish Buendia’s chances of playing time for Villa.
Leeds may need to be patient, but Buendia is still an option.
While Malen can play on either flank or up top, it does mean that Villa now have another body to sit above Buendia in the pecking order. The signing allows Morgan Rogers to play as a ten.
Buendia is struggling to play with the presence of Ross Barkley, Youri Tielemans, Jacob Ramsey, Leon Bailey, and other No.10 possibilities. Buendia’s position on Leeds is thought to remain unchanged.
Even with Emery’s substitutions, his 19-minute cameo against West Ham on Friday was the second-longest he’s played all season. It may take a few weeks, but he must depart.
And where better to receive consistent playing time than under the manager who oversaw his finest form of his career, in a team that plays offensive football and has the potential to win the Championship?
