Arsenal are reportedly confident of completing a £30 million swoop for Norwich City playmaker Emiliano Buendia, who is also courted by Aston Villa.
According to football.london, Arsenal have submitted a £30 million bid to secure the services of Emiliano Buendia. The Norwich City star has emerged as a priority creative target for the Premier League giants following the return of Martin Odegaard to Real Madrid.
Norwich City value Buendia at £40 million, but it appears they may have to settle for less, especially in the current financial climate. Unfortunately for Arsenal, though, Aston Villa have also submitted a £30 million bid for Buendia, and may even offer a similar package as the Gunners.
The Villans are hoping to sign Buendia as a potential replacement for star player Jack Grealish. The highly-rated Englishman has been linked with a move to Manchester City in the summer, which is why Dean Smith believes that he needs to enter the market for reinforcements.
Arsenal, too, have reinforcements on their agenda this summer. The north Londoners have recently announced the departure of key playmaker Martin Odegaard, in addition to the likes of Mat Ryan, Dani Ceballos and David Luiz.
Mikel Arteta, as a result, is determined to sign Buendia as his desired replacement for Norwegian international. The 24-year-old has enjoyed immense success in the Championship this past season, starring in Norwich City’s promotion with a total of 15 goals and 17 assists in just 39 league matches.
Buendia had also made an impression during the 2019/20 Premier League campaign, emerging as one of the league’s top chance creators. Meanwhile, his performances in the ongoing campaign earned him his first call-up to the Argentine national team, although the playmaker did not make his debut in the recent game against Chile.
It has appealed to Arteta in particular after the Spaniard’s team was often criticized for the lack of creativity in the final third. He believes Buendia can solve his problems, partnering with Bukayo Saka, Emile Smith Rowe and Nicolas Pepe to form the crux of the new-look Arsenal that is quite a step forward from the previous generation involving the likes of Mesut Ozil, Willian and Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang.
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A fee of £30 million also seems fairly reasonable for a player who has already proved himself in English football and should find no difficulties settling in at the Emirates. Arsenal, though, must be swift in their approach, especially with Aston Villa also in the hunt.
