Arsenal have reportedly taken the lead over rivals Manchester United and Chelsea in the chase for Bayer Leverkusen winger Leon Bailey.
According to Mirror, Arsenal are leading the chase for Leon Bailey. The Gunners have seen Manchester United and Chelsea enter the race for the highly-rated Bayer Leverkusen winger. But, it seems they have leapt in front of the chase and are leading their fellow rivals in pursuit of the starlet.
Leon Bailey is an explosive customer on the wing and has safely established himself as a potent threat on the flank for Bayer Leverkusen. The player arrived at the club in January and has indubitably become one of the most dangerous stars in Bundesliga.
The present season is no exception, with the 20-year-old boasting a record of 8 goals and 4 assists in 16 appearances thus far. It is this return that has seen the player draw widespread attention, especially from the Premier League. Arsenal, Manchester United and Chelsea are all looking to reinforce their wing for varied reasons, and Bailey seems to have entered their radar.
Leon Bailey (20) has been directly involved in a goal once every 92 minutes across all competitions this season.
• 1106 minutes
• 8 goals
• 4 assistsB04 match-winner ⚫️? pic.twitter.com/667K6tjeCx
— Scouted Football (@ScoutedFtbl) December 20, 2017
Chelsea’s need for reinforcements in attack can be highlighted by a recent change in tactic, which has seen Antonio Conte deploy Eden Hazard more in the False Nine role in Alvaro Morata’s absence, which really limits his options on the wing. And with Willian being linked with an exit, Bailey seems a viable target for Chelsea.
Manchester United have long been interested in the player, with the links stretching all the way back to the summer. Jose Mourinho is looking to intensify his search for a winger to add to his squad and Bailey, with his direct and explosive playing style, could just be the answer come January.
Arsenal though, seem to have jumped ahead of others in Bailey’s pursuit. The Gunners seem resigned to lose Alexis Sanchez in the summer, if not January and are looking to lay down the succession plans already. Bailey could be a breath of fresh air for Arsenal, with his pace, and his return tally looks to be good enough to offset the loss from Sanchez’s potential departure.
Theo Walcott is also being linked with the likes of Everton, which makes the addition of a winger imperative at Emirates. Arsenal’s scouts watched the player in action twice in recent times and are ready to follow it up with a £30 million offer for Bailey come January.
Leon Bailey (2017/18) – The Jamaican finally showing his promise in The Bundesliga, will be one of the best in the world soon. pic.twitter.com/5Kp8r3I4TG
— Declan (@dribblatore) December 22, 2017
Convincing the 20-year-old might be a tedious task, with the player signing a five-year deal with Bayer Leverkusen. But, the lure of Premier League combined with the chance to play for a club of Arsenal’s stature could help make up Bailey’s mind.
