Leon Bailey to feel heat at Aston Villa as bid submitted for potential Unai Emery replacement
We’re delighted to welcome former Aston Villa full-back Alan Hutton as our exclusive columnist. Each week he’ll be giving his views on the biggest talking points at Villa Park…
Leon Bailey would “feel the heat” at Aston Villa if Unai Emery manages to sign Bayer Leverkusen star Moussa Diaby, according to Alan Hutton.
The Daily Mail reported on Wednesday (19 July) that Villa have tabled a £42million bid to sign the 24-year-old French attacker, who is valued at £52million by Bundesliga side Leverkusen.
It is understood that with the Germans set to go on a pre-season training camp in Austria this weekend, all parties want to have a deal tied up beforehand.
Unai Emery reportedly knows Diaby from their time at Paris Saint-Germain together and Hutton believes the interest in the Leverkusen star could have a knock-on effect for Jamaica international Bailey.
When asked if Bailey could be move on this summer, Hutton told Villa News: “Possibly. I think it’s an area where they do need more consistency.
“In flashes, we’ve seen what Bailey is capable of, but you need to see it regularly, and that’s what Unai Emery demands.
“If he’s not getting it, he will move on to someone else.
“These are big figures we’re talking about with Diaby.
“I read that they put in an offer of £30million and it was knocked back. Whether that’s true or not, I’m not sure. But this is a guy they’d really want to be in the squad to make them better.
“If you want to move forward, these are the kind of stand-out players you go for.
“Of course, the players already in the squad will feel the heat with these guys coming through the door.”
Diaby, a nine-times France international, scored 14 goals and supplied 11 assists in 48 appearances across all competitions for Bayer Leverkusen last season.
He scored two of those goals in the Champions League group stages and then a further three in the Europa League knock-out rounds before Bayer were knocked out by Roma in the semi-finals.
In other Aston Villa news, the club’s received a kick in the teeth over this £8.5million transfer reveal.