Fenerbahce prepared 'to meet' Aston Villa star’s salary demands as interest intensifies in 39-time international
Aston Villa are expected to sell one of their top performing players from the 2023/24 season
Turkish heavyweights Fenerbahce are expected to step up their attempts to sign out-of-favour Aston Villa winger Leon Bailey this summer.
Jose Mourinho’s side finished second in the Turkish Super Lig last term, 11 points adrift of fierce rivals Galatasaray, who were recently crowned champions for the fourth year in a row.
The serial-winning Portuguese boss is desperate to add to his list of league titles and has set his sights on Bailey as he looks to fill a key void in his side in the wide areas.
Former Newcastle United man Allan Saint-Maximin is no longer a part of the Fenerbache following a mixed loan spell from Saudi Pro League side Al-Ahli while Serbian international Dusan Tadic, formerly of Southampton, has also left on a free transfer following the expiration of his contract in Istanbul.
Fenerbahce plot move for Leon Bailey
Sporx are the latest outlet to claim that Leon Bailey’s day at Aston Villa might be numbered as the club look to sell players to alleviate any PSR concerns and facilitate future arrivals.
Enzo Barrenechea, a player signed from Juventus, in a PSR related transfer which saw Douglas Luiz go in the other direction, is expected to join Benfica for a figure of around £13m after a deal was agreed and it’s possible Bailey could follow.
Reports in Turkey suggest Bailey had been offered to Fenerbahce by an agent, with the report also adding that the Turkish giants are willing to pay the Jamaican’s salary demands.
How much could Aston Villa make from Leon Bailey?
Aston Villa are believed to be seeking a figure of around 30 million euro (£26m) for Leon Bailey, which is around the same fee they paid to sign him from German giants Bayer Leverkusen in 2021.
Bailey has an overall record of 22 goals and 24 assists in 144 appearances in a Villa shirt and has treated the club to some excellent memories over the years in an era where the club have experienced massive improvement under Unai Emery.
He was a catalyst in the team that qualified for the Champions League in 2023/24 by finishing fourth, contributing an impressive 10 league goals and nine assists, but only managed one goal and two assists in 24 matches last term in a huge drop off as the club brought in Donyell Malen on a permanent from Borussia Dortmund and Marcus Rashford on loan to push him Bailey down the pecking order.
As it stands, Bailey is one of the names being mooted for a summer exit. However, talks over his departure to Turkey are far from a formality with the club reportedly unwilling to pay his asking price.
Instead, it’s reported that the most likely offer will be a loan deal which potentially includes an option to buy based on performance related criteria. He’s under contract at Villa until 2027, with the option of also signing a one-year extension.