Unai Emery has urged Aston Villa to hand Argentine playmaker Emiliano Buendia a new deal following his resurgence.

Since returning from his loan spell at Bayer Leverkusen, Emiliano Buendia has managed to re-establish himself as a key figure at Aston Villa under Unai Emery. According to a report from Football Insider, the Spanish boss now wants the Birmingham-based club to reward him with a new deal and, in the process, secure his long-term future.

Buendia, who joined Villa in the summer of 2021 in a deal worth £38 million, spent the second half of last season on loan at the German club. He didn’t really have the best of spells as he was involved in 14 matches, and got only limited game time.

Buendia’s revival at Aston Villa

While reports suggested Aston Villa would look to cash in on Emiliano Buendia during the summer, the Argentine international managed to impress Emery following his return. Not only has it helped him get a prominent role in the team, but the 28-year-old has also been firing on all cylinders this season.

While he has only racked up 882 minutes of first-team action in his 20 outings, Buendia has contributed towards eight goals. He has featured as a ten, as well as on the flanks when needed.

The former Norwich star has been one of the most impactful players for Villa this season. He even bagged a crucial stoppage-time winner against title favourites Arsenal. Buendia has managed to regain the trust of the manager and is expected to have more minutes in the second half of the season.

A new deal for the Argentine playmaker

Following his impressive performances, Emery now wants to secure his long-term future. With only 18 months left on his deal, the Spanish manager wants Aston Villa to hand him a new deal as a reward for his recent performances.

Emery wants to avoid a situation where Buendia has the option to run down his deal and leave for free. With the club struggling financially under PSR constraints, making new signings difficult, the former Arsenal boss is keen to ensure that all his key players remain at the club.