Bayer Leverkusen will reportedly not be exercising their circa £17 million option to sign Emiliano Buendia permanently when the player's loan expires at the end of this season.
Buendia, 28, joined the Bundesliga club during the winter transfer window after signing a one-year contract extension with Aston Villa amid links to Leeds United. The player's previous deal was due to expire next summer, but now runs until 2027.
The Premier League club seemingly moved to protect the player's value should Leverkusen decide against keeping the player long-term by preventing him from entering the final year of his contract this summer. That scenario has now seemingly played out.
Sports Illustrated Deutschland claims that Buendia will be leaving BayArena, acknowledging that he, alongside fellow loanees Mario Hermoso and Nordi Mukiele, received applause from the Leverkusen fans following their final home match of the season. They lost 4-2 against Borussia Dortmund, with Buendia remaining an unused substitute.
The player has made just 13 appearances since his January move, only four of which were from the start. He did, though, score a 91st-minute winner as a substitute away to Heidenheim in early April.
That was the first of two goals he has scored, the second coming in a 2-0 win over Augsburg later that same month. Buendia has, however, seemingly not done enough to convince Leverkusen to pay around £17 million and make the move permanent.
Leeds will be aware of that development, with links to the player emerging earlier this year. Daniel Farke even [acknowledged reading those rumours](https:// https://www.leeds-live.co.uk/sport/leeds-united/leeds-united-handed-midfield-boost-30816189).
"I never comment on players under contract for other teams because I wouldn't expect any other manager to make comments about my players," Farke said in January.
"We only speak about business once business is done. I have read the comments because I am interested in football and the Premier League.
"Obviously, I have worked with Buendia; he was one of my best players at Norwich. I really rate him, but I don't comment on a player who right now is playing at a different side."
With Leeds set for a busy summer following their return to the Premier League and Buendia likely to be available, Farke could finally get the chance to manage with the Argentine playmaker once again.
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