Aston Villa boss Emery reveals Bailey agreement close

Aston Villa boss Unai Emery says a new deal for Leon Bailey is close to being agreed.

Emery is pleased with the winger's form.

He said on Tuesday: "The adaptation for some players is longer. Then we need to understand the adaptation, how each player can do it differently.

"Leon Bailey, he came from Germany and the first year he didn't play being consistent and he had some injuries. When I arrived here I tried to set him as a second striker and for him to take the best characteristics.

"He was still in the adaptation when I arrived here and the adaptation is everything. More or less, at the end, we can watch him on the pitch and this year he didn't start really being strong even and last year he was not consistent always. For example, the last two matches we played last season, key matches, he wasn't in the starting XI.

"He consistently in the starting XI and I spoke with him this year when we started pre-season about how we could improve different issues and things he wasn't showing us in a consistent way. His reaction was fantastic after the match we played against Newcastle and Liverpool.

"Against Liverpool he was on the bench and he came in after the minute 20 and I changed him in the minute 65 more or less. He went to the break with his national team and when he came back I was thinking every day of him about this change. It was not me trying to punish him or make him feel bad, it was tactically, but he can think it was a little bit hard for him for me to change him.

"I explained it to him. 'No Leon, I want more. We need more of you. You have to be consistent and be consistent and focus more than you are doing because it is not enough'. His commitment has improved and his focus working every day harder has improved.

"His way here adding us his skills, scoring goals, assists, improves. We decided more or less one month ago to extend his contract. We had to be very demanding with the players and if they want to increase their level and their demands like the team is doing, then it has to change.

"We spoke to him, he is happy here, happy in Birmingham and Aston Villa. He is working progressively better. The idea is for him to extend the contract and we are close. I think he is going to sign."