Sources: Aston Villa open preliminary talks to sign Norwich City star Buendia
Aston Villa have opened preliminary talks over the signing of Norwich City star Emiliano Buendia, Football Insider has learned.
This 24-year-old is a top target of the Midlands giants as they look to strengthen their attacking options in the summer window.
A Villa source has told Football Insider that early talks have already begun with third parties over the potential signing of Buendia.
Norwich have indicated they will reluctantly let the Argentine go if their asking price of £30million-plus is met.
Villa face strong competition for Buendia from rival Premier League clubs, including long-time suitors Arsenal, who had a January enquiry knocked back.
Dean Smith’s side have been in touch with top-flight new boys Norwich to register their interest in the right-sided playmaker signed from Getafe in 2018.
Villa are in the market to bring in two wide forwards and are preparing for more big spending this summer.
As revealed by Football Insider, Burnley star Dwight McNeil is also on the radar of the Midlands giants as well as Werder Bremen’s Milot Rashica.
The plan is to sign two senior forwards who can play out wide, either side of the main striker, in Dean Smith’s favoured 4-2-3-1 formation.
Villa’s need for new attackers has also increased after Trezeguet tore his anterior cruciate ligament against Liverpool and is set to be sidelined for up to a year.
Buendia has been identified as a player approaching his peak who is capable of strengthening a Villa attack that has been overly reliant on Jack Grealish.
The Argentine has scored 15 goals and registered 17 assists in the Championship this season, creating more chances than any other player in the division.
He also has played in the Premier League for a season and now has three campaigns in England under his belt.
In other news, Alan Hutton has expressed his sympathy for Aston Villa chiefs after huge Carney Chukwuemeka quit update.