Emi Buendia has been tipped to leave Aston Villa this summer - mere months on from talk of interest from Leeds United.
They found Buendia unwilling to drop into the Championship and managed to clinch the Championship title without him.
Given that Buendia thrived under Whites boss Daniel Farke during their time together at Norwich City, it is hardly surprising that transfer links have continued to surface.
Emi Buendia has been a regular fixture for Aston Villa this season.placeholder image
Emi Buendia has been a regular fixture for Aston Villa this season. | Bruce Rollinson/PA Wire
The 29-year-old has made 41 appearances in all competitions this season, registering seven goals and six assists. However, he has come under scrutiny for his form of late.
Emi Buendia tipped for move
Former Villa scout Bryan King believes the attacking midfielder could be moved on in the summer, five years on from his £33m switch to the Midlands.
He told Villa News: “Players are controlled by the way they perform. Football is all about ifs. If you aren’t performing, it’s about two things: your form has gone, or you’re not happy at the club and with the manager.
“Does he need a new challenge now? If those things are joined together, it may be time for him to leave.
“I think he could be moved on, let’s put it that way. There’s no chance they get the £33m they paid for him, no chance. There will be a club out there that wants to take him, that’s the way it goes.”
Daniel Farke managed Emi Buendia at Norwich City.placeholder image
Daniel Farke managed Emi Buendia at Norwich City. | Stephen Pond/Getty Images
The summer ahead for Leeds United
Leeds will most likely need to retain their Premier League status if they are to be in the market for players of Buendia’s calibre.
If Farke’s men do beat the drop, the club will not be able to simply rest on their laurels and celebrate the initial achievement.
It remains to be seen what the future holds for Buendia, who is out of contract in the summer of 2027.