Anthony Onifade

Thu 3 August 2023 19:10, UK

Leon Bailey’s time at Aston Villa could well be coming to an unfortunate end after a new development regarding the club’s owners NWSE’s decision on the Jamaican international.

Bailey arrived in the Midlands from Bayer Leverkusen back in 2021 meaning that his contract isn’t set to expire for another two years, and last season he nailed himself down a regular starting place under Unai Emery at Villa Park.

In the Premier League, the left-winger was handed 26 starts last season but his unpredictable performances failed to convince so many of the Aston Villa faithful and Emery, and following the addition of Moussa Diaby, Bailey could now be walking a tightrope.

According to Football Insider (31 July), the club’s owners are willing to listen to offers for Bailey as his departure would aid Emery in his bid to spend big on another attacking signing.

The report writes that Aston Villa are hoping to “raise cash” to fund another forward signing and have identified the attacker as a player that they can let go of before the end of the ongoing transfer window due to him no longer being seen as a “regular starter” by the Spanish coach.

While Diaby’s arrival may have had a profound effect on his former Leverkusen teammate, Bailey may well have been forgiven for picturing his former Leverkusen teammate’s arrival as a chance to spring his Villa Park career back into life.

The former Bayer Leverkusen man has been guilty of some dour and laboured showings throughout his Villa Park career, probably as a result of much of Aston Villa’s cutting-edge attacking play resting on his shoulders, and it can certainly be argued that the Jamaica international needs players of a similar profile alongside him to thrive.

However, that doesn’t seem to be the case with NWSE surely now giving up on him. The way Bailey kicked off his summer preparations for the new campaign, it certainly seemed as if he would have been given a Villa Park lifeline.

The 27-year-old delivered a standout performance for Jamaica against Trinidad and Tobago recently in a tremendous 4-1 CONCACAF Gold Cup win with a team comprising of the likes of Premier League trio Michail Antonio, Demarai Gray and Bobby Decordova-Reid.

Bailey, who was given an 82-minute outing, was extremely impressive for his nation, picking up a goal and an assist in the victory and showcasing why the 23/24 campaign at Aston Villa could be a hugely important one for him.

Against Trinidad, starting in a front two with Antonio, Bailey registered one shot on target, three off target and also managed to spurn two big chances – which will come as a frustration given his struggles in recent months. [SofaScore]

The former Bayer Leverkusen winger also managed 39 touches of the ball and completed 21 of his 24 passes at an 84% accuracy, which is a considerable upgrade on his average of 61.6% over the last year, but he also showed that he needs attacking quality alongside him to thrive.

Bailey and Diaby either side of Watkins, with the likes of Buendia and John McGinn, may have proven a welcome sight for the Villa Park faithful, but it seems as if the club have already made a decision on Bailey’s future in the West Midlands.

The 26-year-old has certainly shown flashes of his brilliance under Emery, but it’s abundantly clear the Spaniard needs consistency amongst his players every week if they are to have a chance of matching it up with the elite Premier League sides next season.

And with a European venture now on the horizon for the club in the new season, it seems as if NWSE and Emery feel Bailey isn’t fit for such lofty purposes.

In other Aston Villa news, one attack-shy player now faces his most critical Villa Park period yet with Emery desperately short of options in one key area.