Arsenal target Buendia comments on transfer speculation

Martin Macdonald

• Updated: 19 May 2021 15:09 BST
• 3 min read

Emiliano Buendia has responded to recent speculation regarding his future by saying he wants to return to the Premier League, but suggested it was his desire to do so with current club Norwich rather than via a transfer to the likes of Arsenal.

The Argentine was one of Norwich’s best players in their season in the Premier League in 2019/20, and has continued his form into the 2020/21 Championship, scoring seven goals and assisting six more in 19 appearances.

He was a wanted man when the Canaries were relegated, but he was one of a number of stars like Todd Cantwell and Teemu Pukki who stayed to help with the promotion fight.

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Teams remained interested, though, with Arsenal reportedly keen on bringing him in to add some creativity to what has been an inept forward line this season.

When asked if he wants to return to the Premier League, Buendia naturally said yes, but didn’t reference any transfer to Arsenal directly.

“Yes, I always say it,” he told Radio Residencias.

“It is the best league in the world, it is the one that makes the difference at all levels. Any team makes life difficult for anyone, it is very complicated. Their organisational level is perfect, the stadiums have a lot of history, the conditions for playing football are ideal, there are no excuses.

“And the players and the teams are the best. I aspire to the best and work every day to get back to it, either in my team or through a transfer. Returning to the Premier in the short term is a dream.

“It is true that there was a lot of talk in the summer, after relegation, about the possibility that both I and other teammates could leave the team to continue in the Premier League.”

Despite their being interest in him last summer and continued interest this January, Buendia claims he was always focused to getting Norwich back to the top flight.

“However, I always had my head with the club,” the Argentine continued.

“I belong to Norwich, I have to do things well for my team. Tomorrow we will see, but I never had my head outside the objectives, to work so that my club does well.

“As this season unfolds, we are doing well and I am very happy to be here. We are in a good position, I am feeling important, I am scoring goals and making assists for my teammates.”

Daniel Farke’s men are in an excellent position to return to the Premier League at the first time of asking as they are currently top of the Championship on 47 points after 23 games.