Back in January, Leeds United faced disappointment in their pursuit of Emi Buendia, as the Aston Villa playmaker opted for a loan move to German heavyweights Bayer Leverkusen instead. Daniel Farke, who rarely comments on players from other clubs — aside from a few like Gladbach captain Julian Weigl — also expressed interest in Buendia, having previously managed him. Although Buendia initially showed little desire to drop down into the Championship, there was a feeling he might have reconsidered as the transfer window wore on. However, Leverkusen’s late move ended any hopes Leeds had of securing him.
Under the leadership of Xabi Alonso, Leverkusen swooped in to bring Buendia to Germany, where he has since been gaining momentum. Over the weekend, Buendia netted his second goal for the club, helping Leverkusen to a 2-0 win. Now, it seems history may repeat itself, with Leverkusen again targeting another player that Leeds have their eyes on.
A goalkeeper is high on Leeds United’s shopping list, especially with Illan Meslier expected to leave Elland Road this summer, according to Phil Hay. Meslier’s current contract runs until 2026, but his time at the club appears to be coming to an end. Several names have been linked to the role, including England internationals Aaron Ramsdale, Sam Johnstone, and Nick Pope. Another strong option is Chelsea’s £16 million-rated keeper Djordje Petrovic, currently on loan at Strasbourg.
However, Leeds face stiff competition once again, as Leverkusen have identified Petrovic as a top target to succeed veteran Lukas Hradecky. German outlet Kicker reports that Alonso’s side is determined to bring Petrovic to the BayArena, setting up another battle with Leeds.
As for Buendia’s time at Leverkusen, his start was anything but smooth. Out of a possible 12 Bundesliga matches, he only made his second league start this past weekend, having been substituted at halftime in his first. Nonetheless, he marked the occasion with a goal in Leverkusen’s 2-0 win over Augsburg. Although he also featured in a Cup victory over Koln, it appears unlikely that Leverkusen will make his loan move permanent after the season ends — potentially reopening a door for Leeds.
Whether Leeds will eventually land Buendia, Petrovic, or neither could ultimately come down to Xabi Alonso’s decisions in the transfer market.
Leave a Reply