Aston Villa still expect Leon Bailey to leave before the transfer window closes, according to Unai Emery, who said the club were hoping the winger can find a move that keeps his career moving. The 28-year-old has a year left on his contract, so Villa are keen to avoid a situation where they lose him for nothing next summer.
Why Villa want a deal now
Emery’s view is straightforward: Bailey was already close to leaving when Villa departed for Asia, and the club have not changed their expectation since then. The head coach said Villa were expecting him to go and hoped he could get a good opportunity elsewhere. That makes sense from Villa’s point of view because Bailey would be surplus to requirements this season after the club signed Ibrahim Mbaye from PSG.
Bailey’s 2023/24 season still shows why there is interest in him. He scored 10 league goals and added nine assists, production that kept him on the radar despite the uncertainty around his future. Earlier this month, he was also linked with Ajax, while earlier in the window he was in protracted talks with Hull.
What is blocking the move
The main obstacle remains wages. Bailey is reportedly on £120,000 a week, and that salary has complicated negotiations with interested clubs. Hull City have since moved on to other attacking options, signing Mohamed-Ali Cho from Nice and agreeing a deal to sign Jean-Matteo Bahoya from Eintracht Frankfurt.
There is still time for a resolution, but the direction is clear. Villa expect Bailey to move on, and Emery has made it public that the club want a solution before the deadline rather than letting the situation drift into the final year of his deal.
What happens next
For Villa, the priority is to secure a move that suits both the player and the club. For Bailey, the next step is finding a team willing to meet the financial terms and give him a fresh start. Emery’s comments suggest the door is open, but the finish line will depend on whether a club can make the numbers work before the window shuts.
