Daniel Farke could reunite with a former colleague as Leeds United swoop for an Aston Villa star.
Leeds United are reportedly reigniting their interest in Aston Villa attacking midfielder Emiliano Buendia ahead of the summer transfer window.
The Whites were interested in signing Buendia on loan in the winter but the former Argentina international joined Bayer Leverkusen for six months instead. The move to Elland Road could end up happening after all, though, as Buendia only started three Bundesliga games and Leverkusen opted against pursuing their €20 million (£16.8m) option to buy.
Unai Emery has already given Buendia the blessing to leave as Villa need to sell several fringe players to help meet the needs of the Premier League’s profit and sustainability rules (PSR). Buendia himself is ready to go, too, with the desire certainly there to join a new permanent club and get his career back on track.
The 28-year-old was absolutely superb before his long-term knee injury and was a regular starter during Emery’s first season in charge. The fitness setbacks have been regular since, however, and Buendia has been unable to force himself back into Emery’s plans.
Leeds, returning to the Premier League after winning the Championship title, could help reinvigorate Buendia’s career. Give Me Sport reporter Ben Jacobs claims the Whites “still like” the Argentine and implies they are lining up a bid to sign him.
Competition for Buendia’s signature will be fierce, especially if he’s still available for £16.8 million, but head coach Daniel Farke could help convince the player that Leeds are the right choice. The pair worked together at Norwich and enjoyed great success as Buendia contributed 23 goals and 33 assists in 80 appearances under Farke’s wing.
It feels like a match made in heaven ahead of next season and now all that it awaits for it to happen is an official bid from Leeds. With the transfer window opening earlier than usual with a June 1 start date, that offer could arrive in Villa’s inbox sooner rather than later.
Contracts prepared for Aston Villa trio
In other Villa news, supporters can expect movement sooner rather than later when it comes to contracts for three first-team players. The club is expected to offer Youri Tielemans and Tyrone Mings new deals and talks are still ongoing over an improved, long-term contract for Boubacar Kamara.
The Villans know they must make at least one significant sale before June 30 to conform to the Premier League’s profit and sustainability rules (PSR), but there are several players the club see as untouchable. Tielemans, Mings and Kamara are among those.
Tielemans, recently named the players’ player of the season and the supporters’ player of the season, has two years left on his current terms but Villa believe he deserves an improved salary to reflect his performances. It’s not necessarily pivotal that the club get Tielemans tied down this summer, but it takes the pressure off this time next year — and it keeps one of the most important players content.
In the case of Mings, his current deal is set to expire in 12 months and Villa are keen to hold onto him for a while longer yet. The 32-year-old has been a superb rotational option for Pau Torres at left centre-back and he covered for Pau when the Spaniard was out with a broken metatarsal.
Mings thought at one stage that he wouldn’t be able to return to professional football - at least at Premier League level - after sustaining a devastating knee injury. The former England international worked incredibly hard to get back to fitness, however, and his perseverance has paid off as Emery has trusted him with regular starts in recent months.
Kamara, meanwhile, is seen as one of Villa’s star players and Emery wants him to be recognised as such. The France international is reportedly a transfer target for Liverpool, Arsenal, Chelsea and Inter Milan, so Villa are eager to shrug off the interest and retain their man.
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