Leeds United were interested in signing Emi Buendia

Leeds United to have Emi Buendia transfer regret after Angus Kinnear admission

Fri 13 September 2024 15:10, UK

Leeds United could live to regret missing out on Emi Buendia after Angus Kinnear revealed that contact was made over a potential deal.

It was a turbulent summer transfer window for the Whites, which saw a large turnover of players come in and go out at Elland Road.

Arguably the most damaging departures were Crysencio Summerville and Georginio Rutter, who were responsible for a large chunk of goals last season.

With that star duo being sold, Daniel Farke and Co. had to move quickly to bring in reinforcements but there was one star who got away.

Leeds United to regret Emi Buendia miss

CEO Kinnear admitted towards the end of the window that the “missing piece of the jigsaw” was needed at Elland Road [The Square Ball, 12 September].

MORE LEEDS STORIES

The chief executive revealed that: “Buendia was on our list, and very clearly from Aston Villa wasn’t going to be released, and the player didn’t want to come back down.

“He felt he’d served his time at Championship level.”

This will be a blow to Farke and his side as the diminutive Argentine could have been the signing to fire the Whites to promotion this campaign.

The 27-year-old has had a positive spell at Villa Park which has seen him score five and feature in every Premier League game in the 2022/23 season [FotMob], only for an untimely knee injury to curtail his 2023/24 campaign.

The attacking midfielder is a well-liked figure in the Midlands but it is at Norwich City in the second tier where he really stood out, playing under now Leeds boss Farke.

Buendia registered 58 goals and assists across three seasons at Carrow Road [Fbref] which saw him named as the division’s Player of the Year in 2021.

Selling Archie Gray, trying to sign Emi Buendia, and PSR — Angus Kinnear talks #LUFC's transfer window

“I think I’d probably give us a B+ if I was to grade the window in terms of what we wanted to do.”

by @cmcmenamy95 https://t.co/EUDdzfXHbK
— The Square Ball (@TheSquareBall) September 12, 2024

View Tweet

If Kinnear could have brought him in at Elland Road, once he had returned to full fitness after injury, he could have fired them towards the top of the table.

The Whites could now live to regret not being able to persuade the Argentina international to join this summer.

In other Leeds United news, Alan Brazil has admitted that he was wrong about one transfer live on talkSPORT.

For more Leeds news, follow us on Facebook or join our brand new WhatsApp Channel for instant updates to be sent straight to your phone.