Aston Villa are eyeing a transfer for Bayer Leverkusen forward Leon Bailey, according to Adrian Kajumba for the Daily Mail. A £30 million move is being mooted for the Jamaica international.
Aston Villa Want Bayer Leverkusen’s Leon Bailey
Premier League Possibility for Bailey
Leon Bailey is a pacey forward who joined Bayer Leverkusen in January 2017. The left-footed winger, who prefers to play on the right, is one of Bundesliga’s most impressive youngsters. Indeed, he finished the 2020/21 Bundesliga season with nine goals and nine assists. He scored a further five goals and provided two assists in eight Europa League games. The 23-year old is currently at the Gold Cup with Jamaica.
Bailey spent time at Austrian side Liefering and Slovak side AS Trencin before making his name at Belgium outfit Genk. Leverkusen then signed him for €20 million. He has since made over 150 appearances for the club, scoring 39 times.
Jamaica had wanted Bailey to play for his country since 2017, but the forward ‘refused call-ups until the standard of Jamaican football improved’. He finally made his international debut in the 2019 Gold Cup. He has garnered interest from several Premier League clubs, with Villa the latest involved.
Villa Continue Their Transfer Work
Aston Villa have been one of the most active English clubs in the transfer market since returning to the top flight in 2019. They almost overhauled their entire squad that summer. Trezeguet, Tyrone Mings, Ezri Konsa, Matt Targett, Wesley and Douglas Luiz were among the arrivals. They were almost relegated that season, however, with not every signing coming good. Last summer, however, their signings were excellent. Bertrand Traore, Ollie Watkins, Matty Cash and Emiliano Martinez were the four new arrivals, and they have all become integral parts of an exciting team.
This summer, they have already signed Argentine attacker Emiliano Buendia from Norwich City. Ashley Young has returned too, and they have had two bids rejected for Arsenal’s Emile Smith Rowe. The biggest transfer news out of Villa Park, however, is Jack Grealish’s future. The England star looks likely to move this summer, with Premier League champions Manchester City showing interest in a £100 million move.
However, Villa have already identified James Ward-Prowse and Harry Winks are potential replacements.
For now, Leon Bailey is their latest target. The reported £30 million offer should be enough to prise him away from Leverkusen. He will become the latest attacking player to join what looks like an exciting squad. The loss of Jack Grealish will be a huge blow for Villa, undoubtedly. The likes of Bailey and Buendia, however, will help ease the loss.
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