Leeds looking to sign “exceptional” £10m star

Leeds United supporters are surely still in a celebratory mood after their side brushed off any playoff final agony to lift the Championship title on a colossal 100 points.

There will be some anxiety seeping in as to how the Whites will cope with the Premier League. However, the summer transfer window is also a time for those at Elland Road to become even more excited about who could possibly don the famous Leeds white in the top division.

Daniel Farke could well be about to flex his past Norwich City connections to finally bring Emiliano Buendia into the building, with the addition of Buendia to the Whites ranks somewhat of a coup, considering his previous excellent performances for Aston Villa in the Premier League.

Why Buendia signing would be a coup

Buendia and the German used to be a match made in heaven in Norfolk, before the Argentine ace spread his wings for pastures new at Villa.

Indeed, the exciting ex-Canaries midfielder made the Championship his playground under Farke’s watchful eye, as seen in his terrific tally of 24 goals and 41 assists pulling on Norwich yellow and green.

He would initially kick on when given first-team opportunities in the West Midlands, with this goal even breaking Leeds hearts back in early 2023, but injury troubles have since hindered his chances at progressing further at Villa Park.

But, even with Buendia being missing for a hefty 56 games during the 2023/24 season due to a devastating cruciate ligament tear, he does still boast ten goals and 15 assists up a level, which will be of great use to Leeds as they carefully navigate back up.

Yet, whilst the opportunity to pick up a former £33m-rated star on loan shouldn’t be passed up on, another move would go down as a bigger coup than Buendia’s temporary signature being won if it were successfully pulled off.

Leeds could re-sign Bielsa favourite

Leeds will be aiming to leave the past in the past for the most part, especially when it comes to the sinking feeling of being relegated back down to the Championship.

But, Farke and Co. would surely be tempted by the prospect of adding Kalvin Phillips back to their roster.

Indeed, the Mail on Sunday – as has been relayed by MOT Leeds News – stated in their recent print copy that the newly promoted Whites want to bring Phillips back to his old boyhood home after his shoulder surgery at Manchester City.

It has even been further speculated that Leeds could win back their former fans’ favourite for a cut-price – valued at £10m by Transfermarkt – which would be a deal that’s hard to refuse, particularly when you remember Phillips’ heroics at Elland Road under Marcelo Bielsa saw him join Pep Guardiola’s men for a bumper £45m.

This would surely go down as a stroke of genius on Leeds’ end if Phillips were to return and get back to his previous West Yorkshire best.

Indeed, his last spell at the club resulted in many an England call-up under Gareth Southgate, alongside the 29-year-old looking assured at the daunting level, instead of now being known as a waste of City’s flashy millions.

When playing in the top-flight previously for Leeds, Phillips had shown himself to be a competent battler who was also keen at creating chances for his attacking teammates, with the table above showing off both his grit to win duels galore, but also his ability to fashion openings.

It would even lead to the 29-year-old being labelled as “exceptional” by football talent scout Antonio Mango, with nobody more desperate than Phillips himself to try and recapture these lofty heights.

Of course, this might well go down as a misfire if the beloved ex-number 23 returns and buckles under all the intense pressure.

But, on the contrary, it could well be viewed as an unbelievable coup, especially if he rolls back the years in the heart of Leeds’ midfield for far less than his steep £45m valuation.