Aston Villa have confirmed an agreement has been reached with Bayer Leverkusen for the transfer of Leon Bailey.
Villa are at the centre of one of the transfer window's biggest stories, with captain Jack Grealish reportedly the subject of a £100million bid from Premier League champions Manchester City.
However, while it remains to be seen where Grealish – who is rumoured to have been offered a new contract by Villa – will play in 2021-22, Dean Smith is set to bolster his attack with the addition of Bailey.
A Jamaica international, Bailey scored 15 goals and provided 10 assists for Bundesliga side Leverkusen across 40 appearances in all competitions last term.
Versatile and with a wicked turn of pace, the 23-year-old, who joined Leverkusen from Belgian side Genk in 2017, will sign for Villa subject to completing a medical and finalising personal terms, according to a statement on the club's official website.
No fee has been confirmed, though reports suggested Leverkusen were looking to recoup at least £30m for Bailey.
Once the deal is complete, Bailey will become Villa's third major signing of the transfer window, after the additions of Emiliano Buendia and Ashley Young, for £33m and on a free transfer respectively.
Buendia's former Norwich City team-mate Tom Cantwell is also being heavily linked as Villa look to push for Europe with or without their talisman Grealish.
COULD BAILEY REPLACE GREALISH?
Though not exactly similar in style, both Grealish and Bailey occupy a position in the front line.
While Bailey has more pace to stretch defences, Grealish prefers to get on the ball in between the lines. However, Bailey certainly has the ability to link up with his fellow attackers.
Bailey played 13 games more than Grealish last season, with the latter tallying up seven goals and 10 assists, creating a total of 85 chances.
In contrast, Bailey crafted 63 goalscoring opportunities, also creating four fewer "big chances".
But Bailey had more shots (84 compared to 53), and registered an improved shot conversion rate of 17.86 per cent in contrast to Grealish's 13.21 per cent.
While not a traditional winger, Bailey played a pass into the box (including crosses) 224 times, 63 times more than Grealish, at an average of 7.04 per 90 minutes.
He also attempted more dribbles (5.38) per 90 minutes than Grealish (4.59), though the England international boasted a better completion rate of 2.73 per 90 – Bailey managing 2.64 successful dribbles every 90 minutes.
Should Grealish leave, Villa will at least have Buendia to help Bailey fill the creative void, while the potential addition of Cantwell would add a further runner from midfield to support Ollie Watkins.
Grealish may well still stay put, however, and if so, Smith will know European qualification has to be the aim following an 11th-place finish last season.
Emiliano Martinez banned for first leg of Villa’s semi-final against Olympiacos
Aston Villa goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez will miss the Europa Conference League semi-final first leg against Olympiacos.
The Argentina international saved two penalties in the 4-3 quarter-final shootout victory over Lille, but earned a yellow card for his trademark gamesmanship and baiting the home crowd.
That was his second of the game, but he was not sent off as cards are not carried over into the shootout.
However, after also picking up a booking in the first leg against Lille, he will now miss the semi-final first leg with the Greek side on May 2 for three yellows on the totting-up process.
The World Cup winner, who produced heroics against France in the 2022 final in Qatar, will be a big miss, with Unai Emery calling him the best goalkeeper in the world.
“To say something about this is when he’s being successful individually and collectively with his club here at Aston Villa and his national team,” boss Unai Emery said.
“He’s being successful with Argentina, he’s being successful and progressively getting better here with Aston Villa.
“And individually he’s being successful because he’s saving a lot of matches as a goalkeeper.
“Of course, he’s one of the best goalkeepers in the world – the first, the second, the third.
“For me, the best.”
Villa will have a quick turnaround after playing 120 minutes in northern France on Thursday, with Bournemouth’s visit to Villa Park on Sunday.
Emery will assess his side after Saturday’s training session to see how they recover, with Nicolo Zaniolo going off injured in the first half against Lille.
Alex Moreno, Emiliano Buendia, Jacob Ramsey, Tyrone Mings and Boubacar Kamara are definitely out.
“Alex Moreno, Mings, Buendia, Ramsey are still unavailable,” Emery added. “I think no more. After the match we played yesterday, we will have to wait and then decide.”
JFF to introduce new Under-17 tournament for Jamaica Premier League clubs
The Jamaica Football Federation is continuing its commitment to developing youth football in the country with the formation of a new Under-17 tournament to be contested by Jamaica Premier League clubs, JFF president Michael Ricketts announced Thursday.
The competition, tentatively set to commence on May 5, will not be mandatory for clubs to participate in as this is its inaugural year.
“We would want to encourage as many of the Premier League clubs to participate in this Under-17 competition. As it is now, most of the clubs will be participating,” Ricketts said.
“We thought that it was very important that we capture those that are probably on the verge of getting out of high school and have them in a formal setting so that they can make a transition from U-17s to U20s and, ultimately, the senior set up,” he added.
This is also a timely move because, as of 2025, the FIFA Under-17 World Cup will be held annually instead of every four years as was customary.
“We want to insert some energy and some vibe to ensure that as best as possible, we must be competitive and very relevant at age 17 and under so that we can actively participate and add some level of competitiveness at the World Cup which, as of next year, will be held every year,” Ricketts said.
Jamaica got to the FIFA Under-17 World Cup in New Zealand in 1999 and Mexico in 2011.
Erling Haaland a doubt for FA Cup semi-final
Erling Haaland is a doubt for Manchester City’s FA Cup semi-final against Chelsea on Saturday.
The Norwegian striker was surprisingly substituted prior to extra time of the Champions League quarter-final loss to Real Madrid on Wednesday.
Manager Pep Guardiola revealed after the game the 23-year-old asked to be withdrawn but did not give a reason why.
Speaking on Friday, Guardiola confirmed the forward had suffered an injury but still gave little indication as to how serious.
Guardiola said at a press conference: “We will see. It was a tough game, a lot of action, high intensity for both sides.
“Erling felt something, a muscular issue. That’s why he told me he could not continue.
“The (doctor) said he had a little bit of niggles, a little problem, we will see how his evolution is in the next hours.”
In a more positive update, Guardiola confirmed playmaker Kevin De Bruyne “feels well” having been taken off during extra time against Real for nothing more serious than exhaustion.
Guardiola feels, given the schedule, it is understandable that players would be tired at this stage of the season.
He said: “It’s normal with the amount of games we are playing this season and the previous seasons and not much recovery, and extra time and high intensity.
“We put a lot of pressure in our game and that’s why the fatigue is there. They are human beings. They are not a machine. We are used to it.”
The agonising penalty shoot-out defeat by Real ended City’s hopes of winning the treble for a second season in succession.
Yet they remain on course to repeat the domestic double and Guardiola is determined to bounce back from the midweek heartache.
He said: “We don’t have another option. I don’t want us to feel sorry for ourselves.
“In football, you lose games. We performed at our best and we were not able to win. You have to accept it.
“We did everything. We know it, they know it, all the world know it, but it was not enough. When it’s not enough, it’s bad night.
“So congratulations (to Real) and, tomorrow, FA Cup.”
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