As reported by Birmingham Live, Dave Boddy claims no clubs are yet to make a move for Coventry City midfielder Tom Bayliss. Aston Villa are reportedly courting the 20-year-old, but club chief has denied any formal move made by any club regarding the player. When asked if there have been any enquiries on Bayliss, he told CoventryLive, “Absolutely nothing”.
Bayliss’ rise to prominence
Bayliss has been a part of the Coventry City senior side since 2017, after being initially promoted from the U18 squad. He became a prominent part of the Coventry midfield midway through the 2017/18 campaign. The young midfielder ended up making 24 league appearances in what was the professional debut season of his career. His contributions in midfield were crucial as the Sky Blues were promoted to League One.
Bayliss continued his progress in the recently concluded 2018/19 campaign. The 20-year-old was an ever-present figure in midfield, notching up 38 league appearances. He was involved in six goals, helping Coventry achieve an eighth-placed finish in the league. And this is an exceptional record given the fact that they were only promoted to League One at the start of last season.
What can the midfielder bring to the table?
Bayliss is an attack-minded midfielder, who can make driving runs into the final third. He is very good with the ball at his feet and that allows him to act as a ball-carrier in half-spaces. Another key asset of Bayliss’ game is his ability to craft chances in the middle of the park.
However, what makes the 20-year-old such a sought-after midfielder is the overall agility and pace that makes him an ideal fit for the fast-paced nature of English football. Bayliss is quite versatile as well, which is partly thanks to his speed that enables him to operate in the wider areas of the pitch.
Should Aston Villa make a move for Bayliss?
Bayliss will be a smart piece of investment for Dean Smith. The Aston Villa boss is already closing in on a deal to sign Douglas Luiz from Manchester City. And the Coventry City star, to that end, will provide some healthy competition in the midfield department.
Bayliss has shown that he is capable of playing at a higher level of football with his consistent performances in League One last season. Aston Villa, in that regard, will offer him the ideal platform to showcase his talents in what is widely regarded as the most competitive league in the world.
His versatility will be useful for Smith, especially when it comes to squad rotations. Also, the youngster’s tenacity will make Villa much more energetic in the middle third of the park. This makes Bayliss an ideal target for the newly-promoted Premier League outfit.
