Aston Villa are preparing to approach Bayer Leverkusen about £30 million winger Leon Bailey while Anwar El Ghazi faces an uncertain future in the Premier League, according to The Mail.
During their first summer back in the big time, Villa spent around £100 million on 12 new signings.
Two years on, it seems that quality, rather than quantity, is the order of the day, with Dean Smith looking to bring in players capable of enhancing an already talented starting XI while adding depth to a wafer-thin squad.
Emi Buendia, the club’s £30 million record signing, will slot straight into one of those attacking midfield roles, while Ashley Young provides high-quality back-up for Matty Cash and Matt Target in the full-back positions.
While El Ghazi can consider himself slightly unfortunate as the Midland giants weigh up a £30 million bid for a high-profile replacement – the Moroccan scored ten times in 28 Premier League games last season after all – Villa cannot afford to let sentimentality set in as they look to push for Europe this term.
Will Leon Bailey replace Anwar El Ghazi at Aston Villa?
The Mail reports that offers for El Ghazi will be considered this summer with Jamaica international Bailey potentially heading to England.
A versatile player equally comfortable on the left or the right, consistency has never been Bailey’s bag.
But what he lacks in reliability, he makes up for in match-winning potential, producing a highly impressive 15 goals and 11 assists for an often underperforming Bayer Leverkusen side last season.
It is no secret that Aston Villa are planning to bring in another attacker before the end of August, as they look to ease the creative burden on Jack Grealish.
While the £30 million-rated Bailey won’t come cheap, the former Genk speedster may still represent a more affordable option than the likes of Emile Smith Rowe and Arnaut Danjuma.
“He’s so fast it’s not normal,” former Dutch international Ronald de Boer once said of a man often compared to Bayern Munich legend Arjen Robben.
“His speed, combined with his technique, is very rare. Exceptional. He has no weak points.”
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