By Pete O'Rourke, Transfer Correspondent

16th Oct, 2023 | 1:00pm

Sources: Aston Villa planning to open Leon Bailey talks pre-January

Aston Villa are considering offering winger Leon Bailey a new contract at the club in the coming months, sources have told Football Insider.

The 26-year-old is out of contract in June 2025, meaning he will have 18 months left on his deal in the January transfer window.

Bailey has had a decent start to the new campaign, notching four goals and two assists in 11 games across all competitions.

Aston Villa are looking to build a squad capable of challenging for honours with huge ambition behind the scenes at the club.

Jamaica international Bailey signed for the Midlands giants in 2021 in their first wave of big-money signings since promotion back to the Premier League.

Villa paid a reported fee of £25million to Bayer Leverkusen to land the winger, who earns a reported wage of £100,000-a-week.

He has not yet hit the expected levels since making his Premier League move, and it is believed manager Unai Emery is wary of potential injury problems for Bailey.

The 26-year-old missed a big chunk of his first season at Villa Park but has since proved a reliable option for the Midlands giants.

Nevertheless, the club are ready to offer Bailey a renewed deal to protect his transfer value.

He has racked up 10 goals and eight assists in 65 appearances for the club since his arrival.

Aston Villa sit fifth in the Premier League after winning five of their opening eight top-flight games.

The Villains face West Ham next week (22 October) before travelling to Dutch side AZ Alkmaar in the Europa Conference League (26 October).

In other news, midfielder wants to quit Aston Villa after fall-out with Emery.