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EPL Index
·31 July 2023
Villa’s Bailey Enters Transfer Spotlight: Al Nassr Shows Interest
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Yahoo sportsEPL Index
·31 July 2023
Within the hallowed halls of Aston Villa, an air of uncertainty shrouds the future of Leon Bailey, the club’s talented Jamaican international. As the summer transfer window approaches its closure, Villa is reportedly considering offers for Bailey, looking to free up some capital for another potent forward. This revelation comes courtesy of insiders at Football Insider.
While Bailey’s destiny hangs in the balance, interest brews in the heat of the Middle East. Al Nassr, a prominent team in the Saudi Pro League, is seemingly ready to court the Villa forward, armed with the substantial financial backing to cater to Bailey’s needs.
The Middle Eastern powerhouse possesses the means to present Bailey with a “huge” contract, one that aligns with the player’s calibre. In addition, they are prepared to match Villa’s lofty valuation of the forward, believed to exceed £20 million.
Despite his undeniable skill, Bailey appears to have found himself in an unenviable position at Villa Park. The arrival of Moussa Diaby, the club’s record-breaking new signee, threatens to diminish Bailey’s role in Unai Emery’s tactical setup. The Jamaican is predicted to descend the team’s pecking order, raising questions about his playing time in the upcoming season.
Bailey’s contract with Villa extends until 2025. He swapped the colours of Bayer Leverkusen for Villa in 2021, at a time when Dean Smith was in charge. The deal was reportedly inked for a fee of £30m. However, Bailey’s journey with the English top-tier side has been a tale of restrained promise. In the span of two years since his arrival, he’s graced the pitch 54 times, scoring six goals and contributing six assists.
His playing time in the Premier League last season was a tale of two halves. While he started 26 games, he only saw out the full 90 minutes in a mere five of these. Last season, he managed five goals and four assists across all competitions, reflecting the potential that may soon be sought after elsewhere.
Whether the Villa star will continue to don the claret and blue jersey or take flight to the sandy pitches of the Saudi Pro League remains to be seen. For now, the beautiful game’s transfer merry-go-round continues to spin.