Norwich City have garnered a reputation as a bit of a yo-yo team in recent seasons, dropping down to the Championship and then immediately bouncing back into the Premier League. This year though, the club have looked mightily impressive and led by the heroics of one-man creative force Emi Buendia, they’ll be hoping to rid themselves of that label and prolong their stay in the top tier this time around.
What Is Next In Line for Norwich Hero Emi Buendia?
A Team Of Many Important Players
It certainly has been the Emi Buendia show for the Canaries at times. Yes, they’ve had Teemu Pukki leading the line and they’ve had the talents of Todd Cantwell and Max Aarons along the way but Buendia has shone brightly and taken, not only the team, but the league by storm during this campaign.
He’s therefore drawn interest from higher up the football pyramid. But what is the plan for the Argentine? Should he stay and cement Norwich as a mainstay in the Premier League? Should he look for a bigger move when possible? Or should he jump ship immediately before this ‘yo-yo’ team potentially fall back down?
Should Emi Buendia Stay at Norwich and Become a Club Hero?
The first option is to stay put – and that could be the option that could win him the most acclaim.
However, staying with the Canaries may present a bit of a risk factor to the 24-year old. If they truly are a ‘yo-yo’ team and can’t once again stick with the rest of the pack in the top flight, his status may lose stock by spending another season with the club.
If his side struggle – and therefore he struggles – before relegation at the first attempt, yes he would have a chance to fire them back up again but his stock has currently never been higher. Staying with the club at a time when he could realistically secure a very good move for himself may backfire. Although it may be a one-off case, do we need to mention Jack Butland in this instance? Once at the top of his game and linked with a move to the likes of Chelsea, he sunk with Stoke City and now plies his trade for the Crystal Palace U23 side.
However, it may also prove to be a masterstroke. Buendia is comfortable at the club and comfortable with his teammates and the way Daniel Farke has his team set up to play. He’ll want to keep most of his promotion-winning side together, whilst adding just enough to the side to aid them in their quest to stay up. Farke has learned from his errors last time round and this is a Norwich side better prepared than ever to compete with the big boys.
If he can stay and help establish Norwich as a top-tier regular, he could become one of their most important players in a long time. He would go a long way towards further endearing himself to Canaries fans, and would also help his stock go even higher on the flip side.
Emi Buendia Should Jump At the Chance to Move to Any Already Established Premier League Team from Norwich
Reports from Birmingham Live and the national media have emerged in the last few days of a potential move for the 24-year old to Aston Villa.
Would it be beneficial to Buendia to move while he can, even if it isn’t to a team necessarily guaranteed to be challenging for a European spot?
Villa have been superb this season, having become a top-half side after fighting towards the bottom end of the table in the last campaign. Dean Smith has worked wonders and looks to be taking the side from strength to strength.
Adding Buendia to the mix would make them an even stronger contender – and the right signings and moves could push them that extra step towards Europe. This season has shown just how competitive the Premier League can be with Leicester City breaking into the top four again, West Ham United doing the same and Everton, Leeds United and Aston Villa all competing in the top half and more.
A move to a team that are currently slightly more established than them could work out well. A move up, the potential promise of European football with a team also potentially on the up and a chance to have another season at an even higher level that could prove he means business.
Push For a Move to a Big Club
The third option is to hold out for a bigger move – and it’s also the one that would most definitely not go down well with Norwich fans.
They undoubtedly couldn’t blame him for wanting a move to a bigger team while he can but how he goes about it could turn the fans on him. There have already been some bigger teams sniffing around the attacking midfielder and now might be his best crack at securing a high profile move.
If the player wanted out and this became apparent, he would likely have no shortage of suitors for his signature, including some high-profile teams willing to take a punt. If the value was reasonable, then even more reason for bigger teams to try and snap him up.
Maybe though, it may be a bit too soon for the youngster. Playing 36 times in Norwich’s last Premier League season as they were relegated, he only managed one goal compared to his 14 this season, but he did bag seven assists.
This year has been his most productive to date – his second-best was his previous Championship campaign for Norwich. Is there a debate to be made that he needs another campaign either with Norwich or another mid-table side before making the move up? Could it be too soon for the youngster to make the move now?
Some players need time to grow and improve as a player before making a big move. If he wants to take the risk and move now though, then there will be no shortage of takers.
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