Aston Villa are reportedly engaged in discussions with Serie A side AS Roma over the potential early termination of winger Leon Bailey's season-long loan, according to fresh reports from Italy.
A Nightmare Spell in Serie A
The Jamaican international's move to the Italian capital has been plagued by misfortune from the very start. Bailey suffered an injury in his very first training session with Roma, which forced him to miss the opening two months of the campaign.
He finally made his debut in mid-October, but his time on the pitch has been severely limited. The 27-year-old has been sidelined by two further injuries, resulting in a meagre tally of just one Serie A start and six appearances from the bench. Crucially, he has failed to register a single goal or assist during his time in Italy.
No Break Clause Complicates Villa's Decision
Italian outlet Calciomercato claims that Roma are now looking to cut the loan short and send Bailey back to Villa Park this month. However, the report also states there is no break clause in the existing loan agreement.
This technicality means the final decision may rest with Aston Villa and manager Unai Emery. The club must decide whether to formally agree to the termination and reintegrate the player into their squad for the second half of the season.
£20m Purchase Option Deemed 'Dead'
A significant subplot to this saga is the future purchase option included in the original deal. Roma secured an option to buy Bailey for a fee of €23 million, which is approximately £20 million.
Given his complete lack of impact and persistent fitness problems, it is now considered certain that the Italian club will not trigger this clause. This leaves Villa facing a dilemma regarding the player's long-term future, with a return to the Midlands in January looking increasingly likely.
Emery will now have to assess whether Bailey can contribute to Villa's Premier League and European ambitions during the remainder of the campaign, or if alternative solutions must be found during the winter transfer window.
