Godwin ObajeBuendía Fuels Leeds United Speculation With ‘Special’ Farke Claim Amid Playmaker Hunt
Emiliano Buendía has stirred fresh speculation over a potential move to Leeds United after publicly praising Whites boss Daniel Farke — his former manager at Norwich City — in a remark that will only heighten talk of a summer reunion.
With Leeds preparing for life back in the Premier League, Farke is known to be keen on strengthening his creative options in midfield. The club’s return to the top flight demands Premier League-level quality, and with Brenden Aaronson enduring a difficult season in the Championship, the need for a reliable playmaker is pressing.
Buendía, currently under contract at Aston Villa, has seen his own progress hampered by injury, missing the entirety of the 2024–25 campaign. Yet, with fitness regained and opportunities uncertain at Villa Park, the Argentine has again been linked with a summer switch — and Leeds, managed by the man who oversaw his best football in England, have been touted as a serious contender.
The 28-year-old’s recent comments about Farke will only intensify speculation that a move could be on the cards. Speaking about their time together at Norwich, Buendía did not hold back in expressing his admiration for the German manager.
“Daniel was very important for me, not just as a coach but as a person,” Buendía said. “He gave me the confidence to play my game and enjoy football. What we achieved at Norwich was special. He is a special manager.”
That phrase — “a special manager” — will not be lost on Leeds fans or club officials, particularly with the Whites prioritising experienced Premier League quality and dressing room familiarity as part of their summer recruitment strategy.
Buendía’s time under Farke at Carrow Road was marked by flair, goals and promotion glory. In the 2020–21 season, the playmaker registered 15 goals and 16 assists in the Championship, earning the division’s Player of the Season award before securing a £33 million move to Aston Villa. Though flashes of brilliance followed in the top flight, consistent starts proved harder to come by.
Injuries and managerial changes at Villa disrupted his momentum, and with Unai Emery’s squad evolving, it remains to be seen whether Buendía features prominently in their plans going forward.
Leeds, meanwhile, are exploring several creative midfield targets, but the opportunity to reunite Farke and Buendía is viewed as a potentially transformative deal. While no formal move has yet materialised, the pieces are falling into place — and Buendía’s open admiration for his former boss is unlikely to go unnoticed in West Yorkshire.
The coming weeks will be decisive as Leeds look to reshape their squad for Premier League survival. Whether or not Buendía is part of that journey remains to be seen, but the door between him and Daniel Farke, at least publicly, appears very much open.
Godwin Obaje
