Leverkusen sign Emiliano Buendia from Villa, James McAtee deal off

The Bundesliga champions have secured a loan deal for Aston Villa's Emiliano Buendia, with an option to purchase the 28-year-old attacking midfielder at the end of the loan term, according to Sky Germany.

The move to bring Buendia to the BayArena means Leverkusen will not pursue Manchester City's James McAtee, as initially speculated.

Buendia, known for his versatility and flair on the ball, is expected to bolster Leverkusen's attack in the coming months.

With Buendia's deal sorted, Leverkusen are now focusing on reinforcing their defence, particularly looking to fill the gap left by another long-term injury victim, Jeanuel Belocian.

Reports suggest that they are close to finalizing a transfer for Roma's Mario Hermoso to shore up their backline.

On another front, interest from Saudi Arabia has emerged for Leverkusen's striker Victor Boniface. Al Nassr have opened discussions with the German club regarding a potential transfer for the 24-year-old Nigerian, who could serve as a replacement for Anderson Talisca.

German football magazine Kicker has mentioned that Leverkusen might consider letting Boniface go for a fee exceeding 50 million euros.

Boniface, who has managed to score eight goals in 15 appearances this season for Leverkusen, recently returned from injury. However, the presence of Patrik Schick, who has been in fine form, might ease the transition if Boniface were to leave.

Leverkusen's willingness to sell would largely depend on securing an adequate replacement for the young striker.

These strategic moves by Leverkusen indicate a busy transfer window as they aim to maintain their competitive edge in both domestic and European competitions.

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