Huge blow for English giants Manchester United, Arsenal and Chelsea as Leon Bailey has hinted at staying at Bayer Leverkusen for a longer time. The 20-year-old Jamaican-born has said that he would like to remain with the German side, for now, reluctant to a move so soon in his career.
Bailey has been catching the eye of a lot of European clubs across the continent after impressive displays for Bayer Leverkusen this season. English trio of Arsenal, Manchester United and Chelsea have been keen on luring the superstar to the English Premier League in the summer.
Bailey signed for Leverkusen in the winter transfer window early in 2017 for a fee of nearly €20m from Belgian club Genk. During his first few months at Leverkusen, Bailey failed to manage even a single goal for the club, but in his first complete season this term, the young starlet has scored 11 times and notched up five assists as well in 23 appearances in a tremendous season so far.
This incredible run of form has attracted interest from Chelsea, who are keen favorites to bring Bailey to Stamford Bridge in the coming summer transfer window. The Blues will be looking to replace talismanic winger Eden Hazard, who has been linked with a move to European champions Real Madrid after the summer FIFA World Cup 2018.
Arsenal is also in line to sign the lighting quick winger Bailey with Gunners boss Arsene Wenger desperate to land a quality wide player in the summer to replace Chilean superstar Alexis Sanchez, who joined Premier League rivals Manchester United in the winter transfer window.
Jose Mourinho has wanted a quality winger to add firepower in his department since he arrived at Old Trafford, but a failed move for Inter Milan’s Ivan Perisic, the Portuguese boss has turned to Bailey. The youngster has loads of pace, skill and a driving force, which are the traits that Mourinho will be looking for in his next player at Manchester United.
But Bailey has stated that it is not a question of whether he will move to a bigger club or not but rather when he will take that next step. Speaking to a German news outlet Bild, Bailey said that Leverkusen is the ‘perfect club’ for him, “Leverkusen is perfect for me, I want to develop and then I can take the next step.”
“When I move to a big club, the people there will want to know me. ‘I want to make a name for myself at the highest level.” he added. The highly prolific attacker’s goals and assists this term have sky-rocketed his market value which is now estimated to be around €100m.
Bailey also has the option to choose which country he can represent on a national level, with England or Jamaica. Leverkusen will love to offer him a new contract as soon as possible to tie him down to the club further than his current deal which expires in 2022. Is this decision is right for the player’s future- only time can tell.
