Gabby Agbonlahor slams ‘disappointing’ Aston Villa star and outlines potential Unai Emery transfer plans

Add as preferred source on Google

For the first time in the Unai Emery era, Aston Villa are going through a difficult spell of form.

Supporters have been on cloud nine for most of Unai Emery’s time at the club, recording back-to-back European finishes and a place in this season’s Champions League.

Aston Villa fans have celebrated a 1-0 win over Bayern Munich this term and watched some of their youngsters blossom into stars, most notably Morgan Rogers.

But currently, the Villans are enduring a poor run of form, which has seen Emery register a six-match winless run for the first time in his managerial career.

With their form plummeting, all eyes will be on the players, and Gabby Agblonahor has pinpointed one star whose confidence is at an all-time low.

Gabby Agblonahor slams Leon Bailey as ‘disappointing’ this season

Leon Bailey’s drop-off in form has been one of the hardest things for supporters to watch this term.

The fleet-footed Jamaican was so influential to their fourth-place finish in 2023/24, scoring 10 and assisting nine in the Premier League.

Now, the 27-year-old looks like a shadow of his former self, with Emery claiming Bailey isn’t performing at the same level anymore.

With only two assists and zero goals in 14 appearances this term, Bailey’s downward spiral has been noticeable, and former Villa striker Agbonlahor has now offered his ‘disappointing’ verdict on the winger.

Speaking on talkSPORT’s YouTube channel, Agbonlahor said: “We are too predictable, you know how we are going to play. Leon Bailey will get the ball, he’ll cut inside, he doesn’t take anyone on the outside.

“He hasn’t got the pace to beat anyone, he’s been disappointing from his form from last season, signed a new contract, had Diaby pushing him, who we sold in the summer.”

Agbonlahor rightfully points out that Villa never replaced their club-record signing Moussa Diaby this summer after he joined Al-Ittihad, with the incoming Jaden Philogene failing to fill his boots.

Aston Villa’s outline potential transfer plans

Diaby followed Douglas Luiz in making a big-money move out of Villa Park but his departure has only outlined the Frenchman’s importance, and where Emery perhaps needs to strengthen.

As mentioned above, Philogene returned in a £13m transfer from Hull City in July, and the 22-year-old was expected to challenge Bailey for a spot at right wing.

Unfortunately, the England under-21 star has found it tough to reach the level required to start, and Agblonahor believes he ‘isn’t ready yet’.

“I feel that Philogene, he’s a young lad, got talent but I don’t think he’s ready yet to be that player Aston Villa need to maybe come on for Leon Bailey. I’ve not seen Philogene beat a player yet,” he added.

Philogene and Bailey aren’t the only wingers who have underperformed this term, with the above table showing that Jacob Ramsey isn’t producing enough quality in the final.

So, with the transfer window fast approaching, Emery will perhaps be scouring the market for a new winger, especially if Bailey’s poor form continues.