Leon Bailey will not feature for Aston Villa against Newcastle United today following transfer speculations linking the Jamaican international to AS Roma.
Softfootball understands that Leon, along with Jadon Sancho, are the top priorities for the Serie A club who plan on strengthening Gian Piero Gasperini’s attack this new season.
The winger, a £25m arrival from Bayer Leverkusen in 2021 started 14 league games and scored just one goal across 24 total appearances in the competition for Villa last season.
According to transfer expert Fabrizio Romano via his X handle, Bailey will not be included in Unai Emery’s squad for Villa’s Premier League opener vs Newcastle, given ongoing negotiations between Aston Villa and Roma.
He tweeted:
“Leon Bailey, not in Aston Villa squad today as he’s set to leave the club.
AS Roma are progressing in talks to sign Bailey on loan with buy option, clear fav choice of the player”.
Bailey has sidelined interest from several clubs, including Besiktas, and is determined to finalize the deal with Roma today so he can move to the capital. He is in the final two years of his contract with Villa and had been widely expected to depart this summer.
The 28-year-old struggled for form last season despite shining in 2023/24, when he played a key role in helping the club finish fourth in the Premier League. He may have played his final game for the club, as Emery confirmed in Friday’s press conference that he will not be involved against Newcastle.
In a related post, Softfootball reported earlier that Newcastle will also be without their forward, Alexander Isak in their Premier League opener against Aston Villa as uncertainty continues to loom over the Swedish international’s protracted transfer saga.
