Aston Villa have been told that one player currently in their ranks could act as a new signing for Unai Emery next season as he awaits pre-season.
After finishing fourth in the Premier League in the 2023/24 campaign, Unai Emery will join forces with Monchi once again this summer in a bid to bolster the squad.
The Spanish duo will be hopeful of taking the quality of the side to the next level having secured Champions League football, with the bar seeming to rise season-upon-season under Emery’s guidance.
While a host of players will be on the list of Aston Villa ahead of the 2024/25 season, the business side of things must be treaded carefully around, with the Villans being at risk of breaching Financial Fair Play rules.
A report via The Athletic detailed that the Midlands club may be required to sell to buy players in the summer however, Villa have now been told that one of the players currently at the club could prove to be like a new signing.
Aston Villa told Emi Buendia return could act as a new signing
In August 2023, Villa lost both Tyrone Mings and Emiliano Buendia to season-ending ACL injuries, an agonising situation for both the players and the club.
Buendia’s blow happened in a training session less than a week prior to the start of the Premier League campaign, with the Argentine only recently returning to training with his teammates in what has been a nightmare year.
Speaking about Villa’s assets, journalist John Townley shared his excitement about having Buendia available again, admitting that he could act as a new signing if he can reach the levels he showed before his injury, via the Claret and Blue podcast.
“I’m excited and hopeful about Buendia next season, he was the best player in pre-season last year.
“Of course, the big question is what does the injury do for him physically and mentally, hopefully, he’ll return as the player that was playing in pre-season, that would be like a new signing.”
Buendia was showing searing form in pre-season with Villa last summer, as he stood out as Emery’s top performer, scoring three goals and claiming one assist over a host of impressive displays.
The 2024/25 season will be crucial for Emi Buendia
There’s never a right time for an ACL injury to strike although, Buendia’s seemed to come at the worst moment as he finally started to show his worth under Emery.
It’s been a difficult time for the former Norwich City superstar, who is still yet to show the scintillating levels he orchestrated in the Championship before Villa signed him.
That being said, next season could be the ideal opportunity for the 27-year-old, given Villa’s current options in the wide areas, with Philippe Coutinho set to leave along with Nicolo Zaniolo, and Jacob Ramsey’s injury woes proving to be an issue.
As Leon Bailey will know, it only takes a few good games to prove to Emery that a chance to start is deserved, something that Buendia could do next term if he can reach the heights he was hitting in pre-season last year.
Fortunately, the Argentine is fit and ready to endeavour on the pre-season antics ahead, in what will be a decisive time for the exciting playmaker.
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