Ex-Aston Villa Scout delighted amid news on 'integral' Leon Bailey, 'it's fully deserved'

Villa News is delighted to welcome aboard our brilliant new columnist Bryan King, the former goalkeeper who spent over 10 years as a scout at Aston Villa and 28 years in total in first-team scouting roles. Bryan also spent six years on Tottenham’s recruitment team and eight years scouting at Everton…

A new contract for Leon Bailey would be "fully deserved" as he is integral to Aston Villa, says former scout Bryan King.

It was reported by HITC on Thursday (4 January) that the club have made it clear to the Jamaica winger and his representatives that they plan on opening talks over fresh terms shortly.

With Bailey's current deal to expire in the summer of 2025, Villa are keen to ensure that he does not enter the final 12 months of his contract and invite interest from other clubs.

King thinks Bailey has been vital to Villa under Unai Emery this season, with the club second in the Premier League and only three points off leaders Liverpool.

Speaking to Villa News, King said: "Their best buy I thought was Bailey, he's done really well.

"He's been very impressive, he's got good pace, he can finish, I think he's come on a bomb the boy, I really do. It's fully deserved.

"He's proved his worth, there are certain aspects of his game that still need working on, but he's proved certainly this season under this manager that he can be an integral part of the team. Well done him."

Aston Villa defeated Burnley 3-2 last time out (30 December) but will have a break from Premier League duties this weekend.

Unai Emery's men are instead in FA Cup third-round action with a trip to Middlesbrough on Saturday (6 January).

In other Aston Villa news, one pundit expects a key man to sit out at the Riverside Stadium.