Aston Villa winger Leon Bailey is poised for a return to the club after his loan spell at Roma was cut short, with the Jamaican international set to rejoin the squad imminently. This development comes amidst a flurry of transfer activity involving the Midlands club, including the recent departure of Donyell Malen and fresh links to striker Tammy Abraham.
Bailey's Italian Sojourn Cut Short
Leon Bailey's time in Serie A proved to be a challenging period, with the 27-year-old managing just seven appearances for Roma after being hampered by injuries early in his loan. Villa have successfully negotiated his recall, as the original agreement did not include a termination clause, and Roma held an option to purchase the player for approximately £19 million. Bailey will now be gradually reintegrated into the Villa setup, with his long-term future at Villa Park or elsewhere to be determined before the transfer window closes.
Malen Makes Immediate Impact at Roma
Bailey's return follows swiftly after Donyell Malen's exit to Roma, a move that has already borne fruit for the Italian side. In stark contrast to Villa's 1-0 Premier League defeat to Everton, Malen enjoyed a dream debut for his new club, scoring within 26 minutes in a 2-0 Serie A victory over Torino. Playing as a central striker, he opened the scoring before Paulo Dybala secured the win, earning praise from his new manager, Gian Piero Gasperini.
"When you have a player of that level, the whole attacking potential of the team improves," Gasperini remarked. "He has this ability to lose his marker... He finishes with speed and power. These are fundamental qualities for a team like ours." Malen, who joined on loan with an option to buy after growing frustrated with limited opportunities at Villa, is seen as a versatile attacker ideally suited to operating close to the box.
Villa's Pursuit of Tammy Abraham
In a further twist, Aston Villa are understood to be showing significant interest in Roma striker Tammy Abraham, who is currently on loan at Besiktas. Reports suggest Villa officials recently travelled to Turkey to negotiate a deal, even attending Besiktas' away match against Kayserispor to observe the player.
While Besiktas have reportedly triggered a clause to make Abraham's move permanent for just over £11 million, Turkish outlets indicate they would demand close to £18 million to sell him to Villa. This fee is considered reasonable for the experienced 28-year-old forward, who is also said to have agreed personal terms on a lucrative four-and-a-half-year contract worth £4 million per season after tax.
As the transfer window enters its final stages, Aston Villa's squad is undergoing notable changes, with Bailey's return and potential new arrivals like Abraham signalling the club's intent to strengthen their attacking options for the challenges ahead.
