An update has emerged on Aston Villa target Leon Bailey, regarding the club's latest bid for his services...

What's the talk?

According to Football Insider, Aston Villa have had an opening offer of £30m rejected by Bayer Leverkusen for Leon Bailey, as Dean Smith attempts to improve his attacking options heading into next season.

The report claims Todd Cantwell and Bailey are both being eyed by Villa, with the latter said to be valued in the region of £38m - the same fee the club paid for Emi Buendia.

Lange must work his magic

Villa chief Johan Lange must now work his magic to reach an agreement with Leverkusen over the transfer of Bailey this summer. He could be a terrific signing for the club and Lange should not give up after one offer for his services and, instead, return with a second bid for the Bundesliga ace.

Bailey enjoyed a terrific season in Germany for Leverkusen as he racked up nine goals and eight assists in the 2020/21 campaign, starting 25 games. In the Premier League, Jack Grealish managed six goals and 10 assists in 24 starts, meaning he had Bailey had one more direct goal contribution in one more start in comparison to the Villa captain.

This suggests that he could come in and provide a similar level of quality to the England international, strengthening the overall quality of Smith's attacking options. Alongside the likes of Bertrand Traore, Ollie Watkins and Emi Buendia, Villa could have a frightening attacking lineup if they can keep hold of Grealish whilst also bringing the Leverkusen attacker to the club.

Ex-Ajax coach Ronald de Boer once hailed him as an “exceptional” player. He said: "He’s so fast it’s not normal. His speed, combined with his technique, is very rare. Exceptional. He has no weak points."

Leverkusen's sporting director Rudi Voller has also previously sung his praises. He said: "He's got extraordinary pace, he's very skilful with the ball, and he will give further impetus to our attacking department."

The £70k-per-week beast, who was once touted with an England call-up, could, therefore, be a sublime signing and elevate Villa's frontline to a new level by bringing the overall quality up. This is why Lange must not be deterred by his first bid being rejected and should now return with a second offer closer to the £38m the German side could be asking for.

AND in other news, Big update emerges on “wonderful” gem that will surely leave Villa fans gutted...