Ian Darke claimed that Emi Buendia will leave Aston Villa and become a “coveted player” at a team lower in the Premier League or in the Championship.
The playmaker missed a significant amount of time due to injury last season, but as rumours of a January departure grow, he has been on the fringes of Unai Emery’s team this season.
Although it seems improbable at the moment, Leeds United is one among the teams rumoured to be providing Buendia a way out of Villa Park for greater playing time, a place where he would rejoin with former manager Daniel Farke (TEAMtalk, 31 December).
“Buendia is a very talented creative player who has played in both the Premier League and the Championship. TV analyst Darke told Villa News exclusively, “It’s just a shame for him that he’s relegated to the bench because Aston Villa has so much talent.”
He might do well on a loan to a major Championship team or even one lower in the Premier League, but Villa might not want to cut many players when they want to move up in the Champions League.
“He has been linked to Leeds United; a loan there would be ideal for minutes, restoring his confidence as a highly sought-after player and likely starter.”
This month, Emi Buendia might go from Aston Villa.
Buendia is just one of many football players who have suffered from the devastating effects of chronic injuries on a player’s career momentum during their prime.
After missing just three games in his debut season at Aston Villa, when he signed from Farke’s Norwich City, the 28-year-old played every Premier League game in the 2022–2023 campaign.
The Argentine international has not yet played more than 15 minutes in a Premier League match this season, but he may participate in Friday’s FA Cup matchup against West Ham United (10 January). Emery’s Villa club has moved on slightly without him now that they are in the Champions League.
