Arsenal Position On Emi Buendia Revealed

Arsenal have been linked with Emi Buendia this coming January.

Interest from Arsenal in the Argentinian stretches back before the beginning of the 2019/20 season, after an impressive debut campaign in England helped Norwich secure promotion to the Premier League.

The Canaries’ plight in the top division was catastrophically bad, although a number of their regular players courted interest from afar despite their immediate relegation. Defender Jamal Lewis and Ben Godfrey departed, although there was surprise over Emi Buendia, who stayed at Carrow Road over the summer amid speculation of a move to sides across Europe.

With Arsenal on the lookout for creativity in forward areas, football.london have revealed that the 23-year-old is one of several players on Mikel Arteta’s shortlist this coming winter transfer window.

No official approach has been made just yet, and the player will only be able to leave Norwich in January with the club’s say so, but he is a name that has been mentioned.

His stats are where giddiness grows:

"“Buendia’s key pass rate of 3.3 per 90 minutes last season was only second to Manchester City star Kevin De Bruyne, while he created 70 chances which was only bettered by the Belgian and Liverpool’s Trent Alexander-Arnold.”"

Two of Arsenal’s previous South American players, Alexis Sanchez and Emiliano Martinez, have been represented by the agency who boast Buendia as a client, which only adds to the rumours.

There has been no exact fee mentioned in regards to Buendia, with figures ranging from between £20m-£30m. If a deal is to take place, which is a large ‘if’, in January, then Daniel Farke’s side have the bargaining position to ask for a hefty sum. Contracted until 2024, Norwich are in no rush to sell.

The report adds that Buendia is in no hurry to leave either, instead focusing on securing promotion from the Championship with the club he’s made 90 appearances for to date.

In the second tier, the ten league matches he’s played have seen him amass five assists and two goals, with the Canaries sitting top of the Championship table.

Almost exclusively a right-winger, Buendia has versatility across the forward line, adept at playing off the left or behind the central striker. What gives him an advantage over other targets is his experience on English football, something neither of the Gunners’ two main interests, Dominik Szoboszlai or Houssem Aouar, can claim.