Reliable reporter Alan Nixon believes Aston Villa have ‘got a fair chance’ of signing Bayer Leverkusen winger Leon Bailey this summer.
The Lowdown: £25m bid rejected
Villa were first linked with a move for the 23-year-old on Wednesday.
Reports suggested that Villa viewed Bailey as an attainable target, and they firmed up their interest 48 hours later with a formal offer.
Bayer Leverkusen rejected Villa’s £25m bid for the Jamaican, who is open to a move to Premier League. Although Villa saw their opening offer turned down, Nixon still feels a potential deal still has legs.
The Latest: Nixon’s claim
Nixon, who writes for The Sun, was asked on Twitter if he thinks Bailey to Villa will happen.
He replied, believing a transfer has ‘got a fair chance’ – an interesting four-word admission following Villa’s rejected bid.
“Think it’s got a fair chance but when you get into negotiating there’s always someone who wants to be smart … in just about every deal everywhere.”
The Verdict: Villa to repeat Smith Rowe offers?
Before Villa swooped for Bailey, they were seriously after Arsenal’s Emile Smith Rowe.
The Gunners turned down an opening offer of £25m and a second bid of £30m for the attacking midfielder, who has since signed a new deal at the Emirates.
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Villa may well take the same route as they did with Smith Rowe by making a second bid in the region of £30m for Bailey. That may still not be enough, but it makes sense to increase offers slightly instead of paying over the odds.
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