(Credit: Imago)

Callum O'Connell

Tue 19 August 2025 10:58, UK

Aston Villa are keen for Leon Bailey to leave the club permanently following a season on loan, according to their former senior scout.

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Mick Brown, who also worked as the chief scout at Man United and Sunderland and remains very well-connected at his former clubs, exclusively told Football Insider that they have been aiming to sell the 28-year-old since the window opened.

This comes after reports [Fabrizio Romano] claimed the winger has a £19million option to buy in his loan agreement with Roma, which will likely be finalised soon.

Brown told Football Insider in February that Villa are looking to move Bailey on in the summer as he is no longer part of the manager’s long-term plans.

The aim had initially been to cash in on the Jamaica international this summer in a bid to raise funds, but they have now agreed to delay that cash injection until next summer.

Villa’s tricky financial position has forced Unai Emery to explore a number of player sales, with more departures likely on the cards before the end of the window.

Leon Bailey is set to leave Aston Villa.

(Credit Imago)

This article contains exclusive comment from Mick Brown, a football transfer expert and former chief scout for Man United and Sunderland among others.

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Brown told Football Insider in July that Emery has been planning to sell Bailey and bring in a new right-winger as the area has become a priority this summer.

The former scout, who has a wealth of experience in top-level player recruitment after over a decade at Man United during their most successful period, insisted that Villa are keen for the winger to make his loan spell permanent next summer.

“It seems Bailey will be allowed to leave on loan,” he told Football Insider.

“Villa have known all summer that they have to get rid of players to bring money in, and he was one they were open to letting go.

“He’s not been a consistent performer under Emery and has never really managed to nail down a starting place in the team.

Unai Emery has big decisions to make before the window closes.

(Credit: Hasan Karim, Breaking Media)

“So they were inviting offers for him in the hope that somebody would come in with some cash.

“It’s not because he’s a bad player or anything, but that’s the way they’re having to operate, and they can sell him without worrying about weakening themselves.

“If he’s going on loan instead, the deal will no doubt have a buy clause for next summer.

“Villa will be hopeful that they take that option, because like I say they want to raise money from his sale and if they can’t do that this year, they want it to happen next year.“

As they continue to put plans in place to strengthen the squad before the end of the window, Villa have set their sights on signing Chelsea star Nicolas Jackson.

Football Insider revealed on 15 August that Jackson has told friends he wants to join Villa, who have now moved into pole position to land the striker.

Nicolas Jackson is a target for Aston Villa and Newcastle.

(Credit: Imago)

Newcastle United are also believed to have registered their interest in the Senegal international, but could be set to miss out on another key target.

This comes after Football Insider first revealed in June that Villa have made contact about signing Jackson and hope to get a deal over the line.

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