Aston Villa lodge bid for ex-Manchester United target

 

Aston Villa have made a formal bid for Bayer Leverkusen winger Leon Bailey, claims Sky Germany.

 

Villa have earmarked Bailey as a top transfer target to further bolster their offensive options for the new campaign.

 

Dean Smith's side broke their club-transfer record to sign Emiliano Buendia from Norwich at the start of the summer and are now plotting an audacious swoop for Bailey.

 

The Jamaica international has been heavily linked with moves to Arsenal and Manchester United in the past and has just two years left on his current Leverkusen deal.

 

Leverkusen haven't yet decided whether or not to cash in on Bailey this summer but there is a feeling a deal can be done for the right price.

 

Villa's opening offer of £25m is likely to have fallen short of Leverkusen's valuation of Bailey but the Bundesliga outfit accept they are running out of windows to get maximum value.

 

Villa's pursuit of Bailey further suggests they are planning for life without Jack Grealish but the transfer doesn't actually hinge on his future.

 

 

Manchester City are in advanced talks to sign Grealish in a deal that could be worth as much as £100m but Villa are still hopeful he will pledge his long-term future to the club.

 

Villa are willing to hand Grealish a new contract worth £200,000-a-week to make him one of the best-paid players in the Premier League.

 

Smith hopes Grealish will stay and form an exciting attacking line alongside Buendia, Ollie Watkins and Bailey.

 

The 23-year-old has spent the last four years at Leverkusen after moving from Belgian outfit Gent in 2017.

 

Bailey played a direct hand in 17 goals in 30 Bundesliga appearances last season, his best ever return in a single league campaign for the club.

 

Moreover, of players that made at least 30 appearances in the Bundesliga last season, Bailey completed a dribble more frequently than any other player (every 29 minutes).