Emi Buendia’s Interview – What’s Going On?

You may have seen that Emi Buendia has given an interview to the Press Association, published on Tuesday, in which he states his desire to play in the Premier League.

Full interview with @Em10Buendia on his Norwich future and this season. #ncfc https://t.co/eAqjncOzg2

— Nick Mashiter (@nickmashiter) September 15, 2020

I don’t see this as a particularly dramatic development because let’s be honest, name a player that wouldn’t?! Having just spent last season in the English top flight, Emi has had a taste of the big time and he naturally wants more. To be fair to the lad he did pretty well too, despite only managing to score one goal. He was a constant threat for Norwich and provided seven assists and he also managed to grab himself a record while he was there. In December 2019, Buendia created 29 chances, the most by a player during a calendar month in the Premier League’s history.

There is just one snag though, there seemingly hasn’t been a lot of interest in him. In fact, according to one highly accurate Twitter account there has been nothing.

Anonymous ITK account SexyBennett@SexyBennett1 tweeted on Tuesday:

“Not been a sniff of interest for Emi.
Not an email.

Therefore, agent/Emi has interview.

Club knew nothing about it. Not sanctioned.

Webber unhappy.“

Leeds United have been almost constantly linked, ever since City’s recruitment team first identified Buendia as a target and them made a positive move for him, while Leeds sat on their hands. The lure of Marcelo Bielsa, a legend of football management in his and Emi’s native Argentina, would probably be too much but Leeds look to have moved on from that speculation and that makes me wonder who exactly would be in the market for a player like Emi Buendia? Valencia, Atletico Madrid, who knows?

His transfer value is open to debate, especially due to the fact that he has four years left on the five-year deal that he signed last summer. His value has to be upwards of the often mentioned £20m figure that has been associated with all of City’s best young prospects at one time or another since last season ended.

Assuming he is back in the squad this weekend, having served a three-match ban for being sent off against Burnley, Emi will only have three matches left before the Transfer Window closes on 5^th October in which to impress any potential suitors, although obviously any interested club will have analysed all his stats long before then.

If Mr Bennett is correct and there has been no interest in Emi Buendia, then this interview is merely posturing and positioning in an attempt to get a move. He does say though that he is committed and if a move doesn’t happen then he will fight for Norwich City.

Let’s hope that’s true.

OTBC