Aston Villa: Unai Emery will have had Leon Bailey ‘in the office’ after what the forward did recently
Bryan King believes that Aston Villa boss Unai Emery would have had Leon Bailey “in the office” after what the forward said recently.
The ex-Villa scout has criticised the 26-year-old for recent comments that he made.
While appearing on the Let’s Be Honest podcast (20 March), Bailey suggested that anyone would want to make a move to one of the Premier League’s biggest clubs.
“Who wouldn’t want to go to a massive team? Especially coming out of Jamaica, do you know how big that is for the country? Especially being who I am as well.”
King – speaking exclusively to Villa News – believes Bailey is already playing for a big club and should remain focussed on Aston Villa.
“I would imagine Emery has had him in the office and given him a talking too.
“Bailey is already playing for a big club, Aston Villa. They are the team that brought him into the Premier League in the first place.
“Villa gave him that chance and he has taken it and improved immensely. There is plenty for him to do at Villa before he can start considering moving elsewhere in the Premier League.
“Bailey should be grateful to be at Villa, continue to perform and maybe in two or three years he will move on, but if he wants to do that he needs to continue to perform in a Villa shirt.”
Leon Bailey must remain focused on the task at hand with Aston Villa and Unai Emery
While Bailey’s comments were perhaps taken slightly out of context, with the winger also admitting he is happy at Villa Park having signed a new contract last month, they will still be of concern to supporters.
It suggests that Bailey isn’t entirely focused on Aston Villa and that it wouldn’t take too much to convince him to leave the club.
Emery must ensure he reminds Bailey of what is at stake between now and the end of the season.
Villa have a fantastic chance of qualifying for the UEFA Champions League, which in itself would offer Bailey the platform he craves, and he must therefore ensure he remains focused on that objective and doesn’t fly too close to the sun.
In other Aston Villa news, Emery is eyeing up a “well-known” striker after an Ollie Watkins development.
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