Leeds-linked Emiliano Buendia set to join Aston Villa for £33m - John Percy

The Telegraph's Midlands reporter John Percy has revealed that the Leeds United-linked Emiliano Buendia is set to join Aston Villa for a club-record £33m fee.

On Saturday evening, Percy took to Twitter to share the huge update and claimed that the Argentine is set to undergo his medical at the club.

This news broke a day after it was revealed that both Aston Villa and Arsenal had submitted initial offers for the player. [Football London]

Prior to this, Leeds United were also keen on the attacker [Foot Mercato], and have suffered a massive blow as one of their rivals for league positions have now secured the services of Buendia.

The Norwich winger has enjoyed a phenomenal season with 15 goals and 16 assists in the Championship - making him the division's Player of the Year.

Sights set elsewhere

From the outset, we knew that signing a player that's in such high demand was going to be difficult, and it's proven to be exactly that way.

Signing Buendia would mean us shattering our club record, and that's something that the decision-makers opted against and looked to have pulled out of the move in time.

It's no secret that Bielsa wants a wide attacker capable of playing through the middle, and has identified the likes of Noa Lang and Matheus Cunha as alternatives to Buendia.

Voetbalkrant has reported that we have opened talks with Lang while Cunha seems a more attainable target, given Hertha Berlin's director of football recently admitting that the player could leave this summer.

Both the players mentioned above aren't likely to cost nearly as much as Buendia did, and it would prove to be a prudent buy for Leeds regardless of which way they go.

It's understood that the club are looking to strengthen in other departments too, and do not want to spend a huge chunk of their transfer budget in one area of the pitch.

In other Leeds United news, MOT View: Jamie O'Hara proven completely wrong about 'Magnificent' Leeds ace by one stat