Arsenal have reportedly made an offer in excess of £30m for Emi Buendia after it was claimed this week the club were in talks with Norwich.

The S*n’s Arsenal reporter, Charlie Wyett, reports that Arsenal have made an offer in excess of £30m for Norwich City’s Emi Buendia but that they face competition from Aston Villa for his signature, which is just a sad thing to write. The ‘being in competition with Villa’ bit, not the ‘making an offer bit’, obviously.

Villa have also put in an official bid with Wyett writing that both clubs are “offering packages worth £30m-plus.”

However, “Norwich,” Wyett continues, “do not need to sell financially,” and “are playing hard ball” by insisting “they want £40m for the Championship player of the year.”

This follows on from the Daily Mail reporting on Wednesday that Arsenal remain in talks with Norwich City for Buendia, which came after the Mail’s report on Tuesday of last week that Arsenal had opened talks.

Director of football operations Richard Garlick was said to be determined to make this Arsenal’s first deal of the summer, and discussions were escalating quickly.

At the same time, this conflicted with reports from elsewhere. Though Football.London also reported that Arsenal are after Buendia, and that the 24-year-old is keen on joining, they claimed on Friday that there was no formal approach from Arsenal, yet.

Most seem to be in agreement that Arsenal have at least made contact with Buendia’s representatives, so that’s something, at least.

Norwich City’s sporting director Stuart Webber hinted this week that Buendia would cost between £30m and £40m.

David Ornstein recently reported that both Buendia and Norwich understand that it’s time for him to take the next step in his career.

Buendia cost £1.5m from Getafe three years ago and comes with a 20% sell-on clause in his contract.