Roma pursuing deal to sign Leon Bailey

AS Roma are actively pursuing a deal to sign Jamaican winger Leon Bailey and are in talks with Aston Villa, according to The Athletic.

Bailey, who has been at Villa since 2021, is available for a transfer this summer, and Roma have opened discussions with his current employers.

Since his arrival from Bayer Leverkusen for £25 million, he has accumulated 22 goals and 23 assists over 144 appearances across all competitions.

His best season was 2023-24, where he scored 14 goals and provided 13 assists, helping Villa qualify for the Champions League.

However, his form dipped in the 2024-25 season, and new signings have pushed him down the pecking order, so it is no surprise Villa are open to cashing in on him.

For Roma, Bailey presents an attractive attacking option as they look to bolster their offensive ranks to suit the demands of new coach Gian Piero Gasperini, with the Italian favouring a 3-4-3 formation.

Roma finished fifth in Serie A last season, narrowly missing out on a place in the Champions League.

Though the Serie A giants have begun talks with Villa, no official bid for Bailey has been submitted yet.

The winger still has two years left on his Villa contract, a situation that gives the Premier League side some leverage in negotiations.

Clubs from Turkey and Saudi Arabia have also registered an interest in Bailey, which could create a competitive transfer situation.

Bailey primarily plays on the right flank but is versatile enough to operate on the left.