Facundo Buonanotte absent for Chelsea again after Leeds United snub as loan details emerge
New details have emerged around Facundo Buonanotte’s situation after he snubbed Leeds United to join Chelsea in the summer.
Buonanotte was so close to signing for Leeds he had flights booked to bring him to Yorkshire for his medical before the Whites were hijacked by the Blues for a season-long loan switch.
Enzo Maresca’s side visit Elland Road tonight, with Buonanotte having failed to make a Premier League squad for the previous five matches.
At the same time Daniel Farke is facing the sack at Leeds after four-straight losses, and a player in the mould of the Argentine is something he has been missing.
Buonanotte eyed Chelsea’s higher targets than Leeds
Buonanotte has again not been named in the Chelsea squad to face Leeds tonight.
According to an update from the Daily Mail ahead of the clash between the two sides he knew he was signing up to be a squad player at Stamford Bridge.
He is said to have chosen to abandon the Leeds move because Chelsea are a “big club” with “bigger targets” than Leeds, with Champions League football.
The 20-year-old has played most of his games for the club in that competition, although Buonanotte only made Chelsea’s European squad as a late swap when Dario Essugo needed surgery.
The Athletic suggested this week that were his lack of football to lead to a recall in the January transfer window the Whites would be expected to have interest again.
That would appear to go against the plans for him at Stamford Bridge as the Mail report the details of his loan season, costing around £2million, include the right to match any permanent bids that arrive for him in the summer
While there is no option or obligation contained within the current deal, it is unclear whether Brighton have the option to cancel the agreement early.
- Read More: Tim Sherwood shares exactly when Farke will be sacked by Leeds after what he’s told on air
Daniel Farke unlikely to make January window
After Leeds lost 3-2 at Man City to compound the defeats to Brighton, Nottingham Forest, and Aston Villa either side of the international break it emerged that Farke could be sacked if he is then beaten by Chelsea and Liverpool.
The 49ers have never appeared convinced by the German as their man for the top flight so if they are going to make a move at any point they might as well do so in good time before the January window opens.
However, if Buonanotte were to become available again at that point and even end up at Elland Road it would be a bitter pill for Farke to swallow, having been unhappy with the attacking recruitment coming into the season.
He has to shoulder his fair share of the blame for results back in the top Premier League but the Whites boss has also been the victim of circumstance at times.
The former Norwich boss could, however, throw a major spanner into the works of getting rid of him with a win over Chelsea, even if it may only delay the inevitable.
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