Olympiacos have opened talks with Aston Villa over a late move for Leon Bailey as the Greek club race to complete a deal before their European squad registration deadline.
According to Nova Sports, Olympiacos have “opened a channel of communication” with Villa and are moving quickly after identifying the 29-year-old as a major target.
Bailey is available to leave Villa Park after falling down Unai Emery's plans, with the arrival of Ibrahim Mbaye further reducing his prospects of regular football.
Olympiacos race against European deadline
Olympiacos are now attempting to accelerate negotiations because they want Bailey available for their European campaign.
Their deadline to submit the relevant European squad expires in the early hours of Thursday, leaving limited time to reach an agreement with Villa and complete the necessary formalities.
No proposed transfer fee has yet been reported.
Bailey's contract at Villa Park expires next summer, potentially strengthening Olympiacos' negotiating position. The winger is currently valued at around €14million by Transfermarkt, although there is no indication Villa are demanding that figure.
Emery has already publicly acknowledged Bailey's situation and expressed hope that the Jamaican can secure a move where he will receive regular playing time.
Bailey looking for Aston Villa exit
Bailey joined Villa from Bayer Leverkusen for around €32m in 2021, but has struggled to consistently establish himself during his time in Birmingham.
His situation did not improve last season.
Bailey was originally expected to spend the campaign on loan at Roma, only for the Serie A club to send him back to Aston Villa during the January transfer window.
Hull City were subsequently linked with a summer move, although that interest did not develop into a transfer before the English window closed on Tuesday.
Saudi Arabian clubs have also shown interest.
Olympiacos have now emerged as another potential destination and, unlike Premier League clubs, still have an opportunity to complete the deal.
Key Points
- Olympiacos have opened talks with Aston Villa for Leon Bailey.
- The Greek club want a deal completed before Thursday's European squad deadline.
- Bailey has become surplus to requirements following Ibrahim Mbaye's arrival.
- His Aston Villa contract expires next summer.
- Clubs in Saudi Arabia have also shown interest in the Jamaican winger.
What’s Next?
Olympiacos must quickly establish whether an agreement can be reached with Villa and Bailey before their European registration deadline.
Villa are open to facilitating his departure, but Olympiacos' limited timeframe means negotiations will need to progress rapidly if Bailey is to be registered for their European campaign.
0 Comments
First read message
Leave a comment
Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *