Emiliano Buendia facing Aston Villa axe as big-name signing lined up – pundit
Emiliano Buendia’s Aston Villa future could be in doubt if Steven Gerrard makes a summer move for Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, according to Noel Whelan.
The former Leeds striker, speaking exclusively to Football Insider, suggested the Midlands club are in danger of saturating their midfield.
An Aston Villa source has told Football Insider that Gerrard is a huge admirer of Oxlade-Chamberlain, 28, and has made him a top priority in the remainder of the window.
It is understood that the midfielder will cost around half of the £22million asking price clubs were quoted last year.
Buendia, who could cost Aston Villa a reported potential fee of £38million, notched just four goals and six assists in 35 league appearances in the 2021-22 season.
Whelan suggested the Argentina international could raise useful capital in the transfer market.
“Oxlade-Chamberlain can also play out wide and provide another option in those positions,” he told Football Insider‘s Ewan Kingsbury.
“However, you can’t saturate that midfield area with experienced players and not give them all the right amount of minutes.
“It’s a squad game these days but all of those Villa midfielders will want to be starting every game. That’s just not possible if they move for Oxlade-Chamberlain.
“Gerrard knows what he can get out of him. He would be a really good asset on the training ground as well.
“When you look at Buendia, he’s probably the most likely to leave the club and is probably the one who could raise the most money at the moment.”
Aston Villa finished 14th in the Premier League in the 2021-22 season.
Buendia made 22 top-flight starts – with his game time particularly compromised after Philippe Coutinho’s January arrival.
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