Emi Buendia transfer update as Unai Emery makes stance clear amid River Plate interest
Unai Emery says Emi Buendia could leave Aston Villa in the winter window given his lack of game time this season.
The 28-year-old is yet to start a league game this season and has only been introduced off the bench before the 80th minute on two occasions, against Newcastle United and Leicester City in recent weeks. He played the final 18 minutes of Villa's FA Cup third round win over West Ham after starting both League Cup fixtures against Wycombe Wanderers in September and then Crystal Palace in October.
Argentinian giants River Plate are said to be interested in signing Buendia in this window, which follows heavy interest in the playmaker last summer, where Leeds United tried to take him on loan.
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"Always we are trying to improve the team," Emery said when asked about Buendia's future in Friday's press conference. "The players who are here with us, always we are supporting them. He had last year a long injury but he started this year progressively getting better.
"He didn’t 100 per cent in the season until now. But now he is playing more minutes and helping the team. But maybe he can have the possibility to leave.
"For him, it could be something where he can play more, get more minutes, get confidence again and being comfortable playing again in the starting XI. Of course, now he is helping us and I am happy with his attitude."
Asked if Villa wouldn't stand in his way if he wanted to depart, Emery replied: "Of course, playing more minutes, he can feel better."
Buendia joined Villa in the summer of 2021 from Norwich City in a deal worth around £33m and has made a total of 95 appearances for the club in all competitions.
