Elland Road expansion
Facundo Buonanotte seems finished at Elland Road
Leeds United have opened up a six-point cushion over the relegation zone, and there’s a growing belief around the club that Premier League safety is firmly within reach this season.
With survival looking increasingly likely, attention is already beginning to shift towards the summer. The Whites have ambitious plans in place and are laying the groundwork now to strengthen the squad ahead of the 2026/27 campaign.
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A new goalkeeper is expected to be high on the agenda in the next transfer window, while Leeds are also ready to make a serious push for Middlesbrough midfielder Hayden Hackney.
However, the Manchester City clash on Saturday has more or less confirmed that Facundo Buonanotte is unlikely to have a long-term future at Elland Road.
The Leeds manager again snubs Facundo Buonanotte
Leeds signed Facundo Buonanotte on loan from Brighton in the winter transfer window to bolster their attacking options for the latter half of the season.
However, he has done little to nothing since joining Leeds. The Argentinian was woeful against Birmingham City in the FA Cup and has barely appeared in the Premier League.
Leeds boss Daniel Farke has indicated that he was never expecting much from the attacking midfielder, as he was more or less signed as cover for the attacking areas.
Buonanotte has not made the bench in three of the last four Premier League games for Leeds, and his future at Elland Road looks bleak.
He was again missing from the squad in Leeds’ 1-0 defeat at home against Manchester City on Saturday.
Farke’s words and actions suggest that it would be a minor miracle if the Argentinian finds a way to convince Leeds that he has a long-term future before the end of the season.
The club won’t pay the big fee needed to sign him
Noises were made in January that Leeds would be more than happy to sign the winger on a permanent deal once the loan move was confirmed.
Brighton want a fee in the region of £20m before agreeing to sell him in the summer. However, that deal looks dead in the water at the moment.
Leeds will have money to spend once safety is confirmed, but they are unlikely to fork out a big summer for Buonanotte in the summer transfer window.
He is not even making the matchday squads regularly since joining the club, and it doesn’t appear that Farke has seen anything exceptional from him in training yet.
Buonanotte seems almost certain to return to Brighton once the loan agreement ends with Leeds in the summer.