Leon Bailey return now on cards at Aston Villa with guarantee needed for Unai Emery
Leon Bailey has struggled on loan with Roma this season.
After a quiet 2024-25 campaign that saw him score just two goals in 38 appearances for Aston Villa, Bailey signed for Roma on loan in this season’s summer window.
It was reported that Roma would pay Villa £19million for Bailey at the conclusion of his season-long loan deal, evidently showcasing a confidence that he’d be a smash hit in the Italian capital.
Bailey hasn’t quite fit into Unai Emery’s system at Villa Park, and fans had grown frustrated at his lack of consistency since signing for the Villans in the summer of 2021.
Leon Bailey set for unplanned Aston Villa return
Having seen Donyell Malen depart for Roma this month, Emery isn’t blessed with strength in depth across his forward line.
That could be a major problem in the second half of the season too, as one or two injuries could really see him scrambling around for makeshift fixes that could cost his team dearly in terms of league position.
And with a constant battle being fought with PSR and staying in the financial good books, Emery may not have the money available to go and make a major splash in the market on the right flank.
This could force him to look at alternative options to reinforce his squad, and that’s precisely what is being reported in Tuesday’s print edition of The Sun.
Dan King writes that Aston Villa are pondering the possibility of recalling Bailey from his loan with Roma.
It’s suggested that any decision to summon him back to Villa Park would only be made if Bailey can convince club chiefs that he is fit and ready to play, as he has missed a host of games through injury.
Bailey could see instant starting opportunities back at Villa Park
Jadon Sancho has yet to produce a single goal contribution for Villa this season, whilst Evan Guessand has also struggled to find form in his debut season in English football.
Villa won’t want to move Morgan Rogers out wide either, as the England international looks a better player and more at home through the middle.
Meanwhile, Harvey Elliott is firmly out in the cold, leaving John McGinn, Alysson and Emiliano Buendia as the only other options who can play out wide.
Therefore, should Bailey indeed return to Villa Park this month, then he could well go straight back into a major role in Emery’s side.
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