‘Unai Emery done with Leon Bailey after Donyell Malen rise at Aston Villa’
Aston Villa appear to finally be ready to part ways with Leon Bailey after frustrating four-year stay this summer.
The Jamaica international’s first two seasons in the Midlands were far below expectations, having arrived on a £25million deal from Bayer Leverkusen in 2021 [BBC Sport], and only notching six goals and six assists.
With 27 goal contributions last term, fans thought the winger had managed to find his spot in Unai Emery‘s team, finally, but his form has taken yet another nosedive, and now his future is uncertain.
Mick Brown told Football Insider in February that Villa plan to accept an offer for Bailey this summer, and with the player often finding himself on the bench, it would not be a surprise to see this come to fruition.
Unai Emery may already have Leon Bailey’s replacement
Three winter signings at Villa Park have seen Bailey’s impact on the team completely diminish, with Donyell Malen and Marcus Rashford both preferred on Villa’s flanks now.
There are no doubts over Rashford’s abilities in the final third, but with his future at Man United still uncertain, it is Malen who offers the biggest threat to the Jamaican staying at Villa Park.
With a goal in each of his last three appearances, albeit only one of them coming from the start against Nottingham Forest, fans are quickly falling in love with the £21million man [Sky Sports].
The majority of supporters would even be happy for Jacob Ramsey to start ahead of Bailey, so with just weeks left until the summer transfer window opens, it seems entirely unlikely that he stays much longer.
| Player | Appearances | Goals | Assists | Games missed through injury |
| Leon Baily | 142 | 22 | 24 | 55 |
Aston Villa can aim high this summer as Champions League success continues
Emery, who has been linked with Man United, has done an incredible job at Villa Park, taking the Villans from being a mid-table Premier League team to one challenging for the Champions League title.
With a top-five Premier League finish also on the cards this season, it is truly remarkable what the Spaniard has already achieved, even with several big-name injuries plaguing the squad.
Villa will want to challenge in as many competitions as possible next term, with the FA Cup trophy also a possibility before the summer, but that won’t be possible unless the owners invest heavily.
The squad needs to be as stocked for the upcoming 2025/26 campaign, but with multiple attackers added to the squad recently, selling Bailey to free up funds and wages would be ideal.
Given the winger’s lack of impact in recent weeks, it could be his final few games in Aston Villa colours before the player is moved on during a summer of change at the end of the season, with Malen and potentially Rashford taking the club into next season.