Aston Villa in Talks to Sign Leon Bailey Confirms Father

Aston Villa is interested in signing Leon Bailey as the youngster enters the final two years of his contract, Bailey’s stepfather Craig Butler has confirmed. The winger is expected to move to the Premier League before the next season.

Villa is eyeing Bailey for the next summer transfer. The club has already picked up Norwich City’s Emiliano Buendia and Ashley Young, who was a free agent following his exit from Inter Milan.

Butler recently confirmed Aston officials are in contact with Leverkusen over a potential transfer next year, although Bailey has nearly 2 years left in his contract. Villa is considering other options, too, after missing out on Emile Smith Rowe, who just signed a contract with Arsenal.

Considering the circumstances, Bailey is now a hot pick for Sportingctor Johan Lange and Head Coach Dean Smith. And Villa is all set to make an interesting statement by signing a winger to boost its offence.

The Story So Far

Confirming the links, Butler claims Aston has agreed to pay €30 million (£26m/$35m) to Bayer 04. Despite 2020-21 being Bailey’s best season yet, Leverkusen are willing to let the Jamaican leave for the right price.

According to Butler, “The clubs are currently in the middle of discussions”. Without taking any names, Butler went on to confirm that several other English teams have expressed interest in acquiring Bailey. However, Leverkusen’s management might change its mind and retain the youngster. It’s too early to predict the outcome.

“There are different clubs from the Premier League, and it’s too early to comment. We’re evaluating our options. Most importantly, Leon must take the right decision. Therefore, it’s not decided whether he’ll change the transfer period now. Leon feels at home in Leverkusen, and a transfer will only happen if everyone involved is satisfied”, Butler added.

Bailey’s Current Record

Leon Bailey has emerged as one of Bundesliga’s finest wingers ever since his transfer from Genk back in 2017 for €20 million (£17m/$24m). The Jamaican youngster appeared in 156 games for Bayer and scored 39 goals. Bailey scored 15 goals in the last season alone, helping Leverkusen secure a sixth-place finish in the coveted German league.

Bailey also scored 26 assists during the time, which helped the side reach the Europa League round 32. Therefore, it’s hardly surprising that the rising talent is on the wishlist of some of Europe’s biggest teams, including Paris Saint-Germain, Chelsea, and Manchester United, among others.