Exclusive: West Ham and Bournemouth Join Leeds in £30m Race for Villa's Emi Buendia

West Ham and Bournemouth have joined Leeds United in the race to try and sign Aston Villa midfielder Emi Buendia in a deal worth £30million, SportsBoom can exclusively reveal.

Buendia still has two years remaining on his current Villa deal, but it is understood the club are willing to sell if the price is right.

Premier League-bound Leeds have long been linked with the 28-year-old attacking-minded Buendia.

But our sources have learnt that both the Hammers and Cherries are keen to see if they can sign him now the transfer window has reopened.

Buendia became Villa’s then record signing in a £33million deal in June 2021 from Norwich City.

He twice won the Championship with the Canaries, in the 2018-19 and 2020-21 seasons respectively, before his big-money move.

The former Argentina international enjoyed two seasons in the top-flight with Villa, playing 73 times in the Premier League, scoring nine goals.

But he suffered a serious anterior cruciate ligament injury in pre-season and didn’t play a single game for the club during the 2023-24 campaign.

He eventually made his Premier League return the following season but played just 12 games as he struggled to command a regular starting role in manager Unai Emery’s side.

BUNDESLIGA LOAN MOVE

That resulted in a January loan move to Bundesliga side Bayer Leverkusen, for whom he scored two goals in 11 league appearances.

Buendia’s weekly wage is believed to be approximately £45,000, which the Hammers and Cherries are prepared to cover if they can agree a permanent deal.

But a loan deal is also understood to not be out of the equation as they look to entice Buendia with the promise of regular football following his frustrating injury setbacks.

Leverkusen, who recently sold star German international midfielder Florian Wirtz to Liverpool in a £100million plus £16million in add-ons deal, are also interested in signing Buendia, although it is understood his preference is to play in the Premier League.