Leeds must regret selling 20-goal ace who could have been their own Buendia

Leeds United have garnered a reputation for not being flash spenders during the winter transfer market in recent years with this quiet window being no exception to that rule.

This time last year, the promotion-chasing Whites only welcomed Connor Roberts through the door on a disappointing loan switch.

In 2025, no deals were clinched by Daniel Farke and Co ahead of the crucial Championship promotion run-in to follow.

Consequently, this could well leave the West Yorkshire side a little short on numbers in some positions of the pitch, with a lack of depth perhaps hurting them moving forward in the number ten spot.

Leeds were interested in adding some more personnel to this area according to reports…

Leeds’ chase of Emiliano Buendia

Indeed, Farke would have loved for a reunion to take place for Emiliano Buendia to move away from Aston Villa to the high-flying Whites, having been a transformative figure for the Argentine attacker at Norwich City.

Across their celebrated time together in Norfolk, the South American ace picked up a stunning 24 goals and 41 assists in total, culminating in two promotion successes up to the Premier League.

Therefore, it would have been a no-brainer for Farke to try and get his hands on Buendia again, with reports linking him with a move throughout the window. The 28-year-old’s uplifting presence alongside the likes of Joel Piroe and Wilfried Gnonto would no doubt have helped Leeds seal a return to the top flight.

But, in the end, Buendia joined Bayer Leverkusen on loan instead, as the Whites boss was left with a feeling of what could have been.

Frustratingly for the promotion-chasers, they could have already had their own version of the ex-Norwich star…

The player who could have been Leeds’ very own Buendia

Even the most ardent Leeds fan might struggle to remember Mateusz Bogusz’s stop-start time at Elland Road looking back, considering the Polish midfielder only ever made three first-team appearances.

Often chucked out on loan instead of being given his big break in the Whites senior fold, there will be a slight regret in the air now that Leeds didn’t try a bit harder to gift him more chances to shine before offloading him for good, especially when you look at how he’s developed since exiting the club.

Bogusz’s numbers at LAFC after leaving Leeds
Year	Games played	Goals scored	Assists
2024	48	20	11
2023	42	4	8
Sourced by Transfermarkt

Bogusz would become a different beast altogether when signing for LAFC in the MLS straight after his underwhelming stay in Yorkshire, with a staggering 31 goal contributions coming his way last season from 48 clashes.

Capable of playing all across the forward positions too – with one of his preferred spots being that number ten spot Buendia has thrived in – the 23-year-old could well have been an ideal alternative for Farke to rely upon.

After all, the exciting 5 foot 9 talent was labelled as a “dangerous” attacker by football journalist Greg Beacham during the peak of his powers in Los Angeles, with Bogusz now moving on to Cruz Azul to further advance his career.

Of course, the gulf in quality is there between the American game and the high-stakes pressures of the English game, but there will be a lingering regret still that Bogusz wasn’t given a fair crack of the whip.

With no Bogusz or Buendia to call upon, Farke will just have to keep everything crossed that Brenden Aaronson doesn’t fall victim to fatigue as his team’s only out-and-out number ten.