Arsenal are reportedly engineering an official bid to sign Norwich City star Emiliano Buendia, who is also a target for La Liga club Valencia.
According to a report by The Guardian, Arsenal remain interested in signing Emiliano Buendia from Norwich City. The Gunners have already been in contact with the representatives of the 24-year-old Argentine, who is also courting interest from La Liga club Valencia.
Buendia has been one of the standout performers for Norwich City since joining them from Getafe in the summer of 2018. In particular, the 24-year-old impressed a great deal in his maiden Premier League campaign in 2019/20, showing that he had the mettle to compete against some of the best players in the country, even as the Canaries were relegated.
His levels have not dropped one bit in the Championship, with Buendia not only creating the most chances from open play in the second division but also having a return of 7 goals and 7 assists in 19 outings to show for his efforts. His continued excellence has alerted a number of clubs, both in the Premier League and abroad, with Arsenal, in particular, keen on signing him.
Arsenal’s interest in Buendia emerged last month, with the club desperately in search of some boost in their creative ranks following the ouster of Mesut Ozil. While Emile Smith Rowe and Bukayo Saka have stepped up remarkably, it is important to note that they are both in the nascent stages of their careers and will be inconsistent from time to time.
As a result, it is important for Arsenal to sign someone nearer to their peak in order to not only provide competition to the aforementioned duo but also be a fine complement for them. As a result, Buendia is a viable target for Arsenal, with his experience in the Premier League being an added bonus.
There have even been suggestions that the north Londoners would be open to offering a player-plus-cash deal to Norwich in order to prise Buendia away from Carrow Road. However, Daniel Farke has maintained that the Canaries are not going to part ways with the 24-year-old playmaker this month. Arsenal, though, are unperturbed by those comments and are lining up a bid.
The report suggests that, as per the reliable Fabrizio Romano, the Gunners have already been in touch with the player’s entourage and are ready to lodge an offer. In addition, Arsenal are also facing competition from Valencia in the race to sign the 24-year-old, who is valued at £40 million by Norwich.
Arsenal have also been reported to be keeping their options open, with Julian Draxler identified as a possible alternative. Nevertheless, it remains to be seen if the Gunners end up making a move for Buendia after all, with a bid reportedly in the works.
Why would norwich sell they stand to gain 170million from promotion no chance this month