Unai Emery is hopeful that Leon Bailey will leave Aston Villa before the summer transfer window closes on Tuesday night. The winger was close to joining Hull City earlier this summer, but the move fell through for a second time after it appeared to have been revived.
Since then, several clubs have expressed an interest in signing Bailey, including Dutch giants Ajax, but nothing has materialised at this stage.
Bailey's loan spell and return
Bailey left Villa on loan last summer, joining AS Roma with a £19 million option to buy. However, after struggling for form and fitness, he returned to Emery’s squad in January.
Staying for the remainder of the campaign, Bailey won a winner’s medal as Villa lifted the Europa League in Istanbul at the end of the season.
Villa's transfer plans
Signed from Bayer Leverkusen in a deal worth £30 million in the summer of 2021, Bailey took time to settle at Villa before producing his best form during the 2023/24 campaign. He scored 10 goals and provided nine assists as Villa secured a fourth-place Premier League finish and qualification for the Champions League.
However, injuries hampered the winger over the past two seasons, and Villa are hoping to move him on before the 11pm deadline on Tuesday.
Emery's comments
“We were expecting him to leave,” Emery said when asked about the winger on Friday afternoon. “When we left for Asia, he was close to leaving, but he is still with us now. Hopefully he can get a good opportunity to leave and join another club and continue his career, and this is our objective.”
