Aston Villa are ready to give Leon Bailey a new contract, HITC Football understands, showing that Dean Smith hit gold with the winger’s transfer from Bayer Leverkusen.
The 26-year-old has delivered a captivating campaign so far this season to guide Aston Villa up the Premier League table. Bailey has scored six goals and also laid on five assists over 18 appearances. Even though boss Unai Emery has started the Jamaican in just eight matches.
Now, HITC Football understands that Aston Villa are keen to reward Bailey’s form with a new and improved contract. The Birmingham outfit have made it clear to the Kingston native and his representatives that they want to now hold discussions over a new deal to tie him down.
Aston Villa want to negotiate a new contract with Leon Bailey
Bailey has just 18 months remaining on the £100k-a-week terms the forward agreed to upon his arrival from Bayer Leverkusen in August 2021. But Aston Villa are reluctant to let him run into the last year of the deal. Emery has also green-lit the decision to discuss a new contract.
Emery is very happy with the form that Bailey has shown so far this season. So, the manager has given the Villans’ president of football operations, Monchi, the green light to speak with the winger’s representatives. Monchi is now trying to broker talks over the Jamaican’s deal.
Emery backing Aston Villa’s decision to debate a new contract with Bailey also shows Smith hit gold with the winger’s transfer in 2021. The Villa Park outfit paid Bayer Leverkusen £25m for the forward as an exciting Bundesliga gem. But his start in the Premier League was slow.
Dean Smith hit gold with Leon Bailey’s transfer from Bayer Leverkusen in 2021
Injury problems helped to restrict Bailey to only 18 games during the 2021/22 campaign, in which he also scored just one and assisted two goals. The departure of Smith and arrival of Steven Gerrard in charge failed to improve his return, either. But Emery has Bailey thriving.
Bailey only scored once and assisted two goals in six top-flight games under Smith. Gerrard would also only see him score once and assist once through 22 games. But the forward has so far offered Emery eight goals plus seven assists through 39 Premier League matches yet.
Aston Villa have Smith to thank for Bailey’s transfer and those of Ollie Watkins and Douglas Luiz. But the coach was not as successful with moves for Wesley Moraes, now at Stoke City, or Bertrand Traore. Emery has played Traore twice for nine minutes in the league this term.
But Smith certainly hit gold with Bailey and Aston Villa are now keen to reward the potential he saw in the winger with a new contract. The tactician, now in charge of MLS side Charlotte FC, praised the potential Bailey showed in Germany upon his arrival from Bayer Leverkusen.
“Leon is a hugely exciting young striker with great pace and creativity,” Smith said, via Aston Villa’s website. “He has enjoyed a successful career at Leverkusen. And we are now looking forward to watching him show his skills and talents for Aston Villa in the Premier League.”
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