Transfer Centre

Arsenal 'handed boost in pursuit of Norwich City's Emiliano Buendia'

By Daniel Lewis, Senior Reporter | 11 February 2021

Arsenal target Emiliano Buendia will be available to purchase in the summer if the right bid is made, according to Norwich City director Stuart Webber.

Arsenal appear to have been handed a boost in their pursuit of Emiliano Buendia as Norwich City's sporting director Stuart Webber confirmed the attacking midfielder is for sale.

Buendia was rumoured to be high on Arsenal's list of targets in the January transfer window, but the Gunners mainly focused on cutting their wage bill instead.

Norwich's unrealistic valuation of £40m is believed to have played a part in Mikel Arteta's side delaying a bid until the summer, at which point the 24-year-old will still have three years to run on his contract.

Webber is open to cashing in on Buendia, as well as other in-demand players Max Aarons and Todd Cantwell, as long as the right bid is tabled at the end of the season.

"We have our valuation and if people don't want to pay that, they don't get them," he told The Athletic.

"We don't see it as us being unreasonable, we do know what our players are worth, what we've done for them, and what we want to be compensated for if they were to go.

"It's inevitable that interest will come for those three because they're terrific players and very experienced now for their age.

"When their journey here ends, we'll make sure they get to a good place. Most importantly, their legacy has to be leaving Norwich in the best place it can be."

Buendia, relegated from the Premier League with Norwich last season, has seven goals and six assists in 22 Championship appearances this term.