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Deal Done Immenent: Leeds United reportedly inverge to land “magical” Premier League ace who’s better than Aaronson
Leeds United return to Championship action today, hosting Sheffield Wednesday at Elland Road following their FA Cup tie last weekend.
Harrogate Town visited West Yorkshire for the third-round clash, where Daniel Farke’s side required a second-half header from Largie Ramazani to secure their progression to the fourth round.
Now, the Whites are focused on their league campaign and aim to reclaim the top spot in the Championship by securing all three points in today’s early kick-off.
In their previous league outing, Leeds dropped two points after conceding two late goals against Hull, squandering a two-goal lead.
With the January transfer window open for over two weeks, Farke may look to strengthen his squad to avoid further slip-ups in the push for automatic promotion in the second half of the season.
One player linked with a move to Elland Road is Emiliano Buendia, who previously worked with Farke at Norwich City.
The Latest on Emiliano Buendia’s Move to Leeds United
On Thursday, journalist Ben Jacobs discussed the potential for Buendia’s move to Leeds on The View podcast, as shared by LeedsUnitedNews. Jacobs stated that while Villa is open to selling Buendia permanently, such a move is not likely for Leeds this month. However, a loan deal with an obligation to buy in the summer is a possibility.
Jacobs explained, “Villa are open to a permanent sale but that’s not for Leeds right now. A loan with an option or obligation is more likely. A loan with an option would require Leeds to cover all of Buendia’s wages, which they may not want to do, but they might be more open to covering part of his wages if an obligation to buy is included.”
Villa reportedly paid £38m for Buendia in 2021, and Jacobs believes Leeds are unlikely to match that valuation at this time. However, a deal could be possible if Leeds and Villa agree to a loan with part of Buendia’s wages covered and an obligation to make the move permanent if Leeds gain promotion.
Buendia, who can play as an attacking midfielder or on the right wing, could potentially challenge players like Brenden Aaronson for a starting spot.
Brenden Aaronson’s Season So Far
Aaronson returned to Leeds in the summer after a loan spell at Union Berlin, eager to revitalize his career after a disappointing first Premier League season. While his season has had its ups and downs, the 24-year-old American has shown that he can be a valuable player at the Championship level. In 24 league starts, Aaronson has been involved in 13 goals and ‘big chances’ created, though his two assists reflect a slight underperformance relative to his expected goals (xG).
Despite this, Farke and Leeds may look to strengthen their squad by bringing in Buendia, potentially offering an upgrade in creativity and goal contributions.
Why Buendia Would Be an Upgrade on Aaronson
The 28-year-old Buendia has faced injury struggles, missing 56 matches last season due to an ACL injury. However, he has scored three goals in 18 appearances for Villa’s first team and U21 side this season.
Buendia previously thrived under Farke at Norwich, where he played a key role in helping the club win two Championship titles. In the 2018/19 season, he scored eight goals and assisted 12 in 35 matches, and in the following season, he took his game to another level, with 33 goals and ‘big chances’ created in 39 Championship appearances.
These statistics highlight the kind of quality Buendia could bring to Leeds in the final third, particularly with Farke, the manager who got the best out of him in the past, at the helm.
A potential move for Buendia would give Leeds an experienced player with Premier League quality, especially considering that Aaronson struggled to make an impact in the Premier League last season, according to ratings from Sofascore. Should Leeds secure Buendia with an obligation to make the deal permanent upon promotion, they would be signing a player capable of significantly boosting their creative output.
