Breakthrough in Aston Villa winger's exit deal as promoted club advance with move
The long-running saga surrounding Leon Bailey’s likely Villa exit looks to be nearing a conclusion.
Leon Bailey’s protracted Villa exit looks set to be finalised by the weekend.
The winger is closing in on a permanent switch to Premier League new boys Hull City, who are finally advancing in a deal.
Reports in Humberside claim the Tigers hope to attempt to have wrapped up the transfer by the weekend. Bailey is not part of the Villa pre-season party in the Far East.
Hull owner Acun Ilicali, who has been vocal on social media about his club’s transfer policy throughout the summer, suggested overnight that the move for Bailey was all-but complete.
An exit for the winger, who turns 29 on Sunday, has been a long-running saga all summer and it is claimed that as recently as last weekend Hull were close to pulling the plug on the deal.
Hull earned promotion back to the Premier League via a play-off final success over Middlesbrough after finishing sixth in the Championship.
Bailey’s departure after five years at the club is likely to help Villa’s pursuit of further attacking reinforcements with Unai Emery keen to add to his ranks. Villa have brought wideman Alejandro Garnacho in on loan from Chelsea.
Jamaica international Bailey spent the first half of last season on loan at Roma before a recall. He scored 23 goals in 163 appearances in all competitions for Villa since a £25million move from Bayer Leverkusen in 2021.
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