Arsenal are facing competition from Aston Villa for Norwich City midfielder Emiliano Buendia.
As reported by Goal last week, the Gunners have stepped up their interest in the attacking midfielder as an alternative to Martin Odegaard, who looks set to return to Real Madrid after his loan deal expired.
In a boost for Arsenal transfer chief Edu regarding a deal for Buendia, the Canaries have already hinted at being forced into selling some of their key players to fund transfers for new arrivals ahead of the summer window.
“One of them may go, maybe two or all three of them will go, who knows – but the facts are that this team isn’t about one or two players,” Norwich sporting director Stuart Webber recently told BBC Look East.
Buendia is valued at around £40million by Norwich and there have been reports that the Gunners are preparing to make an ‘opening bid’ for the playmaker.
CBS Sports claimed that while a formal bid has not yet been lodged, that was expected to change in the coming days.
With that said, the Gunners will have to move fast to get a deal wrapped up.
That is because the Telegraph claim Aston Villa are firmly in the race for Buendia.
And while the report states that there has been nothing formal yet, Villa want to get their business done early and are understood to be ‘preparing an offer’.
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However, some Arsenal fans don’t appear to be too bothered about the prospect of missing out on Buendia to Aston Villa.
The reason for this is because there is a theory that Buendia signing for Dean Smith’s side means he would be replacing Jack Grealish, despite the fact they operate on opposite flanks.
Still, that hasn’t stopped supporters from getting excited on social media, as can be seen below.
@vivastiann said: “Replacement for the Arsenal-bound Grealish. Lol.”
@ArsenaICentral said: “And then we sign Grealish.”
@RahulArsenal1 said: “Buendia to Villa, Grealish to Arsenal possible.”