---
title: "Aston Villa: Alan Nixon drops Leon Bailey claim"
canonical: "https://www.footballtransfertavern.com/aston-villa-alan-nixon-drops-leon-bailey-claim/"
type: "post"
language: "en-GB"
author: "Charlie Smith"
section: "Aston Villa"
published: "2021-07-25T13:05:38Z"
modified: "2021-07-25T13:05:38Z"
---

# Aston Villa: Alan Nixon drops Leon Bailey claim

**Reliable reporter [Alan Nixon](https://twitter.com/reluctantnicko/status/1419000257967542272) 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](https://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-9809733/Aston-Villa-eyeing-30million-swoop-Bayer-Leverkusen-star-Leon-Bailey.html) with a move for the 23-year-old on Wednesday.

Reports suggested that Villa viewed Bailey as an [attainable target](https://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-9809733/Aston-Villa-eyeing-30million-swoop-Bayer-Leverkusen-star-Leon-Bailey.html), and they firmed up their interest 48 hours later with a formal offer.

Bayer Leverkusen rejected Villa’s [£25m bid](https://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-9821547/Aston-Villa-25m-bid-Bayer-Leverkusen-winger-Leon-Bailey-REJECTED.html) for the Jamaican, who is [open](https://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-9821547/Aston-Villa-25m-bid-Bayer-Leverkusen-winger-Leon-Bailey-REJECTED.html) to a move to Premier League. Although Villa saw their opening offer turned down, Nixon still feels a potential deal still has legs.

\[freshpress-poll id=”367393″\]

### The Latest: Nixon’s claim

[Nixon](https://twitter.com/reluctantnicko/status/1419000257967542272), who writes for [The Sun](https://www.thesun.co.uk/author/alan-nixon/), 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.”

\[freshpress-quiz id=”363813″\]

### 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](https://twitter.com/David_Ornstein/status/1405161786006028290) and a second bid of [£30m](https://twitter.com/David_Ornstein/status/1409442112366649344) for the attacking midfielder, who has since signed a [new deal](https://www.skysports.com/football/news/11670/12361420/emile-smith-rowe-signs-new-long-term-arsenal-contract) at the Emirates.

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.

[***In other news: ‘Not ready for this’ – Many AVFC fans react as** **‘tragic’** **exit link emerges.***](https://www.footballtransfertavern.com/aston-villa-transfer-rumours/aston-villa-fans-react-to-marvelous-nakamba-rumours/)