Daniel Farke’s awareness of Emiliano Buendia’s situation at Aston Villa is a message in itself.

Following Sunday’s 3-0 win over Sheffield Wednesday, the Leeds United boss was respectfully reluctant to directly express any interest in the midfielder, whom he labelled as one of his “best players” at former club Norwich City.

Buendia played 121 matches under Farke at Carrow Road, scoring 24 times and registering 41 assists. In the season at Norwich prior to his summer switch to Villa, Buendia registered 15 goals and 16 assists in 39 Championship matches.

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Of course, there is always ambiguity over whether a player can reach his previous performance levels following a cruciate ligament injury, a setback which wiped out the whole of last season for Buendia.

But muscle memory always remains present and Farke remains an admirer, admitting he has seen Unai Emery’s comments that Buendia might be allowed to leave Villa Park on loan this month.

“I never comment about players under contract for other teams,” he said on Sunday. “I wouldn't expect another manager to make a comment about my players.

“If he's not in a white shirt or a yellow shirt we don't speak about them. We just speak about business when it's done. I think he just spoke in general about this, the door is perhaps open.

“I've also read the comments because I'm interested in football and also the Premier League. I think he just spoke in general and he has not said the door is open for Leeds United, he's said it's open for a loan.

“Obviously I've worked with Emi Buendia in former years, he was one of my best players, I really rate him but I don't comment on the situation of a player right now playing for a different side.”

Farke has frequently insisted across the whole of January that he will “stay awake” to opportunities in the market. Last week, he doubled down on his stance and outlined two criteria elements he uses.

He said: “I will never rule out business for us because if you find a player who improves your squad, why not? But also they need to have a really good character and be affordable.”

Farke clearly believes Buendia has good character given his appraisal of him. And Buendia would be affordable - a loan deal, albeit Leeds may have to pay a sizeable loan fee to secure his services.

The Whites boss has made it clear that Brenden Aaronson is his primary number 10 pick among current options but it remains ambiguous who is the primary back-up to the American should he become unavailable, a scenario fans were reminded of when the playmaker hobbled off against Wednesday.

His knock seems minor and Farke indicated he believes any issue is not sinister. But Buendia would not only be another option at number 10 but also challenge the USMNT star for his spot - which cannot be bad things given he has recorded just one goal and no assists in his past five outings.

Buendia is the opportunity Farke has been staying awake for. If there is anyone who fits his transfer criteria, it is the 28-year-old.