BEVERLY HILLS, June 06, (THEWILL) – As the wranglings for choice players and managers begin to heat up in the domestic and European football establishments, a long-time Arsenal target, Norwich City’s Emi Buendia, has been usurped by club rivals, Aston Villa, who demonstrated better intent and are now on the verge of clinching a club-record deal for the attacking midfielder.
The Argentine ace will reportedly cost the Villa side upwards of £38 million, and will see the midfielder move from the newly-promoted Canaries, as he is reported to have agreed personal terms and completed his medicals in Argentina.
The talent of Buendia is not in doubt and his emergence as the Championship Player of the Season after inspiring Norwich to promotion, explains why he elicited such interest at the Emirates since the beginning of this year. Arsenal representatives were said to be in touch with Buendia for a potential move to the Emirates but it is going to be Villa Park for the Argentine.
However, Norwich’s desire to profit from the exit of their star performer led to the placement of a hefty £40m pricetag on Buendia for any team interested in the player who helped them with 15 goals and 16 assists in the 2020/21 campaign in the Championship.
The Gunners, who will be without Real Madrid midfield loanee, Martin Odegaard after the Norwegian was confirmed to have returned to the La Liga giants, will have to make some critical midfield reinforcements to be competitive on the upper half of the table from next season. It was believed that Buendia was the perfect fit but the luxury of having him will now be Villa’s to enjoy.
The quick business of the Villa side to snatch the Norwich star right from under the noses of the Arsenal cannot be unconnected to the belief that Villa could lose their inspirational captain, Jack Grealish, if he banks on his splendid season and makes a move out of the Villa club. They now have Buendia, when the move is confirmed, to easily slot into Grealish’s position and hold it for the team.
About the Author
Jude Obafemi is a versatile senior Correspondent at THEWILL Newspapers, excelling in sourcing, researching, and delivering sports news stories for both print and digital publications.
