Leeds United’s previous transfer plan for Emi Buendia reportedly ‘fizzled out’

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Leeds United are reportedly taking an active interest in Norwich City attacking midfielder Emi Buendia. That is according to a report from Read Norwich, who claim Leeds are looking at a deal for the Argentine, should they trade places with the Canaries and end up in the Premier League next season.

Leeds have reportedly made an initial enquiry for the player, who was a star in the Championship last season, scoring eight goals and registering 12 assists. 

Buendia has seven assists this season and that appears to have been enough to convince Leeds that he could be a solid choice to help their creative threat in the top-flight. 

This news should come as no surprise, considering the fact Leeds United have been interested before. 

In 2017, it was reported by The Daily Star that Leeds United were making a move for the player. At the time, the Getafe-owned attacker was on loan at Spanish second-tier side Cultural Leonesa. 

Described as a sister club for Leeds, at the time there was plenty of hope of fruitful cooperation between the two sides. 

Ivan Bravo of the Aspire Group was on the board of directors at both clubs and Leeds must have felt this fact could help them get Buendia. 

After an impressive season with Cultural, however, Buendia decided to join Norwich in the summer of 2018. 

In February 2019, The Sun journalist Alan Nixon tweeted that Buendia’s initial loan move to Cultural was with a view to an eventual permanent deal to Leeds. That plan, reportedly, ‘fizzled out’, much like Leeds links with Aspire and Cultural – at least to the outside observer. 

Even Norwich sporting director Stuart Webber told The Telegraph in April last year that the Canaries signed Buendia from ‘under Leeds’ nose’ so it would be no surprise if Victor Orta is now looking to rectify that transfer error. 

Any deal would not come cheap. A recent report from the Daily Star Sunday (12/04/2020; pg40) suggested interest from Atletico Madrid, with Norwich wanting £13 million for the player. 

But given the long-term nature of Orta’s apparent interest in the Argentine, it would be no surprise if Leeds so make a move for Buendia this summer.