Norwich City are set for some Argentine flair next season after lining up the arrival of La Liga playmaker Emi Buendía.
The 21-year-old Argentina Under-20 international is understood to be primed for a £1.5m summer switch to Carrow Road from Spanish top-flight outfit Getafe.
Buendía spent last season on loan at La Liga 2 side Cultural y Deportiva Leonesa, where his performances earned him their player of the season award alongside 13 assists – the second-highest tally in the division – and six goals from his 40 appearances. Albeit, the forward's efforts could not help Leonesa avoid relegation to Spain's third tier.
The young right-footed Argentine was also capped three times by Spain's Under-19 side and spent a year with Real Madrid's youth set-up, before signing to Getafe's development programme as a 14-year-old.
Buendía has been linked with moves to Swansea and Leeds in the last 12 months – the United link resurfacing in January, after he served a one-game ban for filming fellow Leonesa loanee Yelko Pino being disrespectful of La Cultural.
However, City may well have got to the player before then – with a deal that has spent a long time in the pipeline, and one the Canaries are believed to be excited about.
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Indeed, Buendía's ability to play on either flank and as a number 10 in a 4-2-3-1 formation seemingly earmarks the young forward as a direct replacement for Alex Pritchard, who left City to join Premier League survivors Huddersfield Town for £12m at the start of 2018.
No doubt Buendía's arrival would also have the eyes of City fans casting a glance towards the future of James Maddison, who spent much of his stellar 2017-18 campaign as Norwich's chief playmaker.
As we reported on Friday, Leicester are leading the chase to sign the Canaries' player of the season and England Under-21 international – with Norwich looking for a fee worth in excess of £20m to sell their prized asset, in the setting of continued adjustment to life without parachute payments.
Everton and Premier League newcomers Fulham have also been linked with a move for Maddison, while his eventual sale could yet pave the way for a possible bid to sign Moritz Leitner on a longer-term deal.
The 25-year-old midfielder spent the second half of last season on loan from Bundesliga side Augsburg, making 12 appearances.
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