Aston Villa considering shock loan transfer recall for Leon Bailey after opening talks with Roma over Tammy Abraham
ASTON Villa are weighing up whether to recall Leon Bailey from his loan at Roma.
Villa are already in negotiations with the Serie A side over a permanent deal for centre forward Tammy Abraham, who is himself on loan at Turkish side Besiktas.
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Aston Villa are could recall Leon Bailey from his loan at RomaCredit: Getty
Unai Emery wants to upgrade his forward options as he bids to secure a top four spotCredit: Reuters
But bringing back Jamaica international Bailey from Italy has emerged as a possibility as boss Unai Emery tries to increase his attacking options.
It is understood Villa could try to sign both Abraham and Bailey in the current window.
But Villa would need to be convinced of Bailey’s fitness after an injury-hit campaign.
The winger, 28, has made only two starts and is yet to score in 11 appearances for Roma.
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Bailey made his latest comeback in the Italian Cup defeat by Torino earlier this month but missed last Friday’s Serie A clash with the same opponents with an unspecified injury.
Roma have already taken Holland international Donyell Malen on loan from Villa with an option to buy.
But that move has left Emery with just Ollie Watkins as his only senior striker.
Villa have Everton and other rivals in the race to sign Abraham, 28, in what would be a complicated deal.
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Villa are also in talks to sign Tammy Abraham in a permanent dealCredit: Getty
Beskitas have an obligation to buy the former Chelsea striker for just over £11m, rising to £13m, as part of their loan arrangement with Roma.
So Villa – and anyone else who wants to buy Abraham – have to keep Roma, Besiktas and the player happy.
Turkish media claim Villa’s initial offer was around £15.6m but Besiktas are demanding £17.3m – or for the Premier League club to include French forward Evann Guessand in the deal.
Abraham is said to favour a return to Villa Park, where he spent a prolific season on loan in 2018/9.
And Villa are desperate for reinforcements up front as they try to keep their bid to return to the Champions League on track.
In the last winter window, the Midlanders brought in Marcus Rashford and Marco Asensio on loan.
Both did well, but not well enough to stop Villa controversially falling short of finishing in the top five on the last day of the season.
Emery’s team missed out after a 2-0 defeat at Manchester United, in which Morgan Rogers had a goal chalked off by referee Thomas Bramall when the score was 0-0 with less than 20 minutes to go.
Back to this campaign and Emery was so upset with Sunday’s home defeat by Everton that he claimed Villa were not top-five contenders, despite sitting in third place.
The Spaniard’s side won eight Premier League games in a row to fuel talk of a title challenge.
But Villa have lost two and drawn one of their last four league matches.
