Arsenal target Emi Buendia drops transfer hint

This Arsenal squad has a lot of positions to replace: right-back, midfield and striker are just three of the countless positions needing reinforcements in the transfer market. One of the most important though, is creatively.

The meteoric rise of Emile Smith Rowe and the effectiveness of Martin Odegaard have drawn away the focus from this area but the need for bolstering, not least if the latter can’t be retained, remains.

Smith Rowe is still young and cannot be expected to perform consistently throughout a long and arduous season. He needs time to find his feet. The other option, Odegaard, is on loan and with every excellent game, the likelihood of him returning next year on an extension or a permanent transfer grows fainter.

This all means that Arsenal might be forced to dip into transfer funds to secure a more senior player who can contribute consistently in the final third. The club has been linked with Nabil Fekir and Jack Grealish – yeah, right – in the past but a long-time transfer target has just hinted at a move.

Arsenal target Emi Buendia drops transfer hint as Norwich forward garners attention ahead of summer transfer window

In an interview with Gianluca Di Marzio, the star winger cast doubt on staying with Norwich:

"He said: “I could have changed club but I wanted to bring Norwich back to the Premier League. I don’t know what will happen in the next year…”"

Now that Emi Buendia’s mission to help Norwich win promotion is completed, regardless of whether the Canaries avoid the drop next season, the Argentine won’t be spending more than a year at Carrow Road. He’s too talented, and too wanted.

Buendia has been the standout performer for Norwich for the past few seasons. Helping catapult them into the Premier League, his quick feet, two-footedness and creative vision have proven to be the perfect fit for Daniel Farke’s slick style of play.

While Norwich struggled immensely in the top-flight last campaign, Buendia nonetheless looked at home. Granted, he only produced one goal and seven assist, but his chance creations stats were bettered by only Kevin De Bruyne and Trent Alexander-Arnold the Canaries slipped down the table.

The Argentine has once again been showing his quality – and superiority – in the Championship this season, scoring 13 and assisting 16 as his input saw Farke’s side stroll their way back into the promised land.

Still only 24 years old, Buendia would constitute a magnificent addition to this Arsenal squad. Technically gifted and hardworking, he can also slot in anywhere behind the striker. Such versatility means he’s comfortable on either wing or in the hole behind the striker, with his ability to break the lines with threaded through balls helping his team get up the pitch. There is little reason to suggest he can’t be a No. 8.

Financially viable? That’s another matter. But on talent alone, he’s ideal.