Leeds United may be casting a keen eye over two recent Aston Villa developments | OneFootball

Donyell Malen and Louie Barry developments at Aston Villa could pave the way for a reunion between Daniel Farke and Emi Buendia at Leeds United.

Leeds United cannot afford to be totally inactive in the market again over the next month and will know the importance of getting the winter window right this time around, which is why recent developments at Aston Villa may be interesting Daniel Farke's side.

Even if only one or two additions are made to keep pace with the teams around Leeds in the league table, it could make all the difference. That said, Farke has lowered expectations lately and said that the club are holding out for a quiet January window following hectic activity in the summer.

However, it may have to change with each of Sunderland, Burnley, and Sheffield United strengthening already. The Whites are among those vying for automatic promotion, with Farke's team in the mix for the second consecutive season in the Championship.

The January transfer window could be key to that for all involved, with it being an opportunity to source additional depth and quality for an extra edge during the run-in. It is likely to have a vital part to play again this term, as it does in most second tier seasons.

Two Aston Villa developments may pique Leeds' interest

Aston Villa boss Unai Emery plans to assess Louie Barry in training over the coming weeks before deciding whether to let the talented attacker leave the club this winter. It is believed that a number of sides in the second tier have been keeping tabs on his performances in League One ahead of a possible move this January.

Sheffield Wednesday are among them, but there have also been reports previously claiming that Middlesbrough and Leeds, as well as Derby County, are among the clubs who were hoping to bring the attacker in. More recently, it has been said that Glasgow giants Celtic are looking to bring Barry in.

All of them may have to wait for the time being, with Emery assessing the attacker in training first:

It's therefore possible that Barry could remain at Villa Park among their other forward options, which have also been bolstered following the signing of the versatile Donyell Malen from Borussia Dortmund for a reported fee of around €26 million, per Fabrizio Romano.

Villa remain in multiple club competitions, which requires a deep squad with numerous options across the pitch. However, at present, their forward line appears to be packed and it's possible that departures will be sanctioned, especially with Malen and Barry now added into the mix.

Jhon Duran and Ollie Watkins are already sharing minutes in the centre-forward position, while Malen, Barry, Leon Bailey, Morgan Rogers, Jacob Ramsey, Ross Barkley, and Emi Buendia are all contracted to the club and hoping to win game time for Emery in the roles behind the striker.

The latter, in particular, is an interesting case. Recent months have seen game time limited for the Argentine, who has earned just 71 minutes of Premier League action across 11 appearances. With 18 months left on his Villa contract, Emery's side may be willing to cash in, given that a potential fee would likely drop if he entered the final year of his deal, while a loan with an option to buy if Leeds win promotion would make a lot of sense as well.

With Brenden Aaronson coming back into the side this season and earning himself a place in Farke’s first-team plans, Leeds have an option in the No.10 role, but the club are still reportedly planning to add competition for game time for the US international in the form of a new signing.

Leeds CEO Angus Kinnear revealed in September that Buendia was one player on their list of potential targets for the summer transfer window, but a deal failed to materialise. Could things be closer to an agreement if Barry is retained for the remainder of the campaign and with Malen also adding versatile depth across numerous forward roles?

Although a goalkeeper is on the minds of many Leeds fans currently, the area of greatest weakness remains the lack of genuine creative threats in the forward line. Another creative player, like Buendia, who thrives in the half-spaces and pockets, has the potential to have a huge impact on this Leeds side.

They require someone who brings a touch of class to any side he features for, whether moving out wide with freedom or operating in central areas, and Buendia could be ideal in that sense. That's because Leeds have many players who like to receive the ball to their feet and dribble with it, with very few that stand out for their playmaking ability.

Even if some wingers like Willy Gnonto drift into central areas and dictate play, many others do not have that knack of finding pockets of space where others might struggle. It was hoped the Italian would provide more impact this season on the team, but he has not become the main-man since Georginio Rutter's and Crysencio Summerville's departures in the way many had expected.

Buendia has proven previously to be a game-changer with the X-factor needed to be a big differential in the final third in the Championship. His influence at Norwich during their Championship title win was exceptional and cannot be overstated when he was one of the Championship’s standout creative players, but opportunities are harder to come by in the top flight.

The same player is still there, he just needs the regular minutes to showcase it. A player of his type is crucial to have, especially for teams looking to break down deep-lying defences in a low-block or compact the middle of the pitch. It can be the difference, with those types of opposition being Leeds' most consistent Achilles' heel for two seasons under Farke, and Buendia is a player that he knows he can trust to have the quality at this level.

While he is undoubtedly still recovering from a serious knee injury he sustained in 2023/24, he is worth a risk on a temporary deal. He can be a match-winner through moments of brilliance and consistent quality, whilst he could operate as either a right-sided winger or attacking midfielder for Leeds.

They have very few forwards like him in their ranks as well. The last time he played at this level, he notched 31 goal contributions and built a brilliant partnership with Teemu Pukki, while he also took home the Championship's Player of the Year award.