/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/58458287/482834716.jpg.0.jpg)
Leeds United are rumoured to be interested in signing another player that will be on loan at Cultural Leonesa. Emi Buendía is already on loan at Cultural, but it appears that Leeds are looking to sign him from his parent club Getafe and keep him on loan at Cultural.
No habrá caso Buendía. Al menos de momento. El pase de Emi a la Championship está casi cerrado pero continuará en la Cultural hasta el final de temporada.
— Juega en Segunda. (@juegaensegunda) January 25, 2018
I've read now that it can be a permanent move from next summer and he will finish the season here. Not sure what to think, if it's permanent you'll probably have to pay good money.
— CyD Leonesa English (@CyDLeonesa_en) January 25, 2018
Leeds was linked with a January deal for the player back in September, and now reports out of Spain say that he could be on his way to Leeds in the summer, with a deal being agreed during the January transfer window with Getafe.
Emi is a very talented player, he played almost every game and he scored twice but he is not the smartest guy. He was the one who uploaded the video with Yelko Pino insulting the club and he was laughing at it, so people is not very happy with him.
— CyD Leonesa English (@CyDLeonesa_en) January 25, 2018
Buendía is in a little bit of hot water at his current club, as he uploaded a video that showed one of his teammates insulting the club to Instagram, which resulted in the other player, Yelko Pino, being dismissed from the club. He’s a talented player, for sure, and his season has mirrored the season that Cultural has had. He was good in the early part of the season, but as Cultural’s fortunes have faltered, so has his. He’s scored two goals in La Liga 2 and one goal in the Copa del Ray this season for Cultural, but he has added seven assists.
He have never played in that central position behind the striker here in León. Always as a winger.
— CyD Leonesa English (@CyDLeonesa_en) January 25, 2018
Buendía has apparently played mainly as a winger for Cultural this season, and with depth on the wings being tested this season, he could easily slot in on the wings this season or next season. He’s a former Argentina u20 player, and he was on the books of Real Madrid as a youth player before joining Getafe.
It makes sense that Leeds would be interested in a player that plays at Cultural Leonesa, its partner club in Spain. Cultural Leonesa is owned by the Aspire Academy, who recently made their partnership with Leeds United official. Along with Cultural Leonesa, the Aspire Academy are also owners of KAS Eupen in the first division in Belgium.
The deal for Buendía is slightly strange, but considering that Leeds already have new signing Yosuke Ideguchi on loan there, it’s not that strange. Leonesa need the players to avoid relegation this season, and since he’s already on loan there, he’ll just stay at his current club while his “parent” club changes.
While Leeds could use the depth at winger and attacking midfielder right now at the club with Samu Saiz still suspended for another four matches. However, Stuart Dallas appears to have returned to fitness and Gjanni Alioski available, Buendía isn’t guaranteed a starting position at Leeds right now. It might be better for him to adjust to the Championship after a full training camp, and this also helps Leeds in the long run to have their partner club in Spain, Cultural, stay in the second division in Spain.