Birmingham City urged to seal shock Aston Villa transfer on major Chris Davies condition | OneFootball

Emi Buendia has been the subject of a potentially controversial move across Brum

This article is part of Football League World's 'Terrace Talk' series, which provides personal opinions from our FLW Fan Pundits regarding the latest breaking news, teams, players, managers, potential signings and more…

Both Birmingham City and Aston Villa supporters have been left frustrated by their team's recent showings in the Championship and Premier League, but that isn't what could spark major discourse between the two sets of rival supporters.

Villa's recent trajectory under the guidance of Unai Emery, which has led to three successive seasons in some form of European competition, has, unsurprisingly, left some among the B6 ranks somewhat surplus-to-requirements as the Villans look to end their long-standing trophy drought.

Meanwhile, less than 3 miles across the Second City, Blues are undergoing a resurgence which is being bankrolled and spearheaded by Knighthead Capital Management, with the American ownership group making it no secret that the club hopes to end its lengthy exile from the Premier League as swiftly as possible.

Since the appointment of Chris Davies last June, the former Tottenham Hotspur assistant has seen many players come into St. Andrew's @ Knighthead Park, with each transfer window representing a step-up in overall quality, as showcased by the additions of Kyogo Furuhashi, Demarai Gray, Tommy Doyle, Bright Osayi-Samuel and Phil Neumann among others in the recently closed summer window.

Yet, amid the influx of new players, it has recently emerged that Blues looked to poach a two-time second-tier winner from Villa Park, although it remains to be seen if a January swoop is forthcoming.

Mixed Birmingham City stance offered amid controversial Aston Villa, Emi Buendia transfer talk

It was initially claimed during an in-depth report on Blues' overall predicament by the Daily Mail that the club had weighed up a potential move for Argentinian playmaker, Emi Buendia from their cross-city rivals.

No player has crossed the divide since Scott Hogan back in 2020, and in this case, the 28-year-old was merely 'considered' as an option to add to Davies' creative department behind the likes of Jay Stansfield and Kyogo, which was often filled by Willum Willumsson and Keshi Anderson last term.

Football Insider have since claimed that Emery isn't willing to lose any more attacking options in January, meaning that Birmingham have their work cut out in order to sign the 2020/21 Championship Player of the Season some five years after he moved to the West Midlands for a then club-record £33m.

Unsurprisingly, such developments have given Football League World's Blues fan pundit, Jason Moore, mixed emotions due to the Argentine's ability and the thought of doing business with their neighbours.

"Tricky one," Moore told FLW. "If I could help it, we don't do anything with Villa. I don't want to help Villa at all. I don't want to aid them in any way by taking a player that they probably don't want and have tried to get off their books.

"But, Emi Buendia, in the Championship, was phenomenal," he stated. "You've really given me a tricky question here.

"In terms of the greater good, and us getting into the Premier League, if you can get someone of that quality into the team, bring him in!

"If he can add quality into the team in that '10' position, which, currently, creativity-wise, we're clearly lacking. Yes, bring him in," Moore added.

"I'd want to look elsewhere first, unless Chris Davies came out and was like 'that's the one I want, 100 percent' and he'd get the ball moving for us and tick loads of boxes, then sure I'd trust him. But, I'm not a fan of doing business with Villa whatsoever.

"Only if Chris Davies wants him, as he'd improve us tenfold," Moore continued. "But, I don't like doing business with Villa.

"But, for the greater good, I guess, bring him in, get us into the Premier League and then he could score against the Villa in the Prem, you never know!"

Emi Buendia would aid Birmingham City's early-season creative issues despite Aston Villa friction

FLW's fan pundit isn't likely to be alone with the aforementioned verdict, with Buendia's previous pedigree at Championship level speaking for itself, especially during the 2020/21 campaign where he racked up 15 goals and 16 assists in 39 appearances. However, due to the friction involved in doing business with Villa, it remains to be seen if a deal is pursued or whether it is a non-starter.

Even though Emery is also unwilling to weaken his own creative department due to a lack of incomings, that certainly wouldn't stop Knighthead, who have continued to flex their financial muscle ever since taking over in B9.

Buendia was continuously linked with a potential move to Leeds United in the summer after spending the second half of last season on loan with Bayer Leverkusen, yet he has made four competitive appearances for Villa so far this season.

With Blues struggling to create any clear-cut chances in their past two outings, a player of such quality would certainly help rectify those issues and, in turn, help push the club towards the top six, which is at worst, where many outsiders have tipped the ambitious club to finish come May.