Leeds United and West Ham United are reportedly in pole position to sign 20-year-old Argentine playmaker Facundo Buonanotte from Brighton & Hove Albion this summer.
According to an update by reputed Argentine journalist Cesar Luis Merlo, Leeds United and West Ham United are interested in Facundo Buonanotte. The two struggling Premier League clubs are eager to bolster their offensive units by signing a playmaker before the summer transfer window shuts down.
So, the 20-year-old Brighton & Hove Albion prospect has emerged as a target for Leeds United and West Ham United. Cesar Luis Merlo has suggested that while “several clubs are vying for” the young playmaker’s signature, Leeds and West Ham are the front-runners to secure his signature in the final days of the summer transfer window.
Facundo Buonanotte and his time in the Premier League so far
Facundo Buonanotte has faced a frustrating wait for opportunities since joining Brighton & Hove Albion from Rosario Central in January 2023. The 20-year-old showed flashes of brilliance in his first 18 months with the Premier League club before completing a season-long loan move to Leicester City last summer. However, a frustrating 2024/25 season was on the cards for the young playmaker.
While the Argentine international was a rare bright spot for Leicester City, he was in and out of the starting lineup, with the Foxes suffering relegation from the Premier League. Buonanotte has returned to the Amex Stadium after his loan spell, but he may not have a long-term future with Brighton & Hove Albion. The situation has captured the attention of several Premier League clubs, including Leeds United and West Ham United.
Move across the Premier League on the cards?
Leeds United’s interest in Facundo Buonanotte makes sense. The Whites are scouring the market for a versatile playmaker amid Daniel Farke’s desire to add more firepower to the offensive unit in the final days of the summer transfer window. Several candidates have thus emerged on Leeds United’s radar, with Buonanotte also a viable target.
As for West Ham United, the East London outfit may part ways with Lucas Paqueta in the final days of the summer transfer window. So, the Hammers are scouring the market for a long-term replacement, and Buonanotte fits the bill. The Brighton & Hove Albion playmaker is thus an option worth considering.
Cesar Luis Merlo has suggested that Leeds United and West Ham United are the front-runners to sign the 20-year-old Argetine playmaker. With several other clubs vying for his signature, it will be interesting to see what the future holds for Buonanotte.