According to a report published by Mirror, Arsenal are allegedly preparing to touch gloves with current Premier League title holder's Chelsea for Leon Bailey's highly sought-after signature. Bailey, who is contracted to Bayer Leverkusen, has taken the Bundesliga by the scruff of the neck during the 2017-18 campaign, nearly a year after joining the club from Belgian outfit Genk in January 2017.
The 20-year-old attacker's employers are currently perched just outside of the German top-flight's Champions League spots in 6th, and the Jamaican U23 international has proven to be a major component in Heiko Herrlich's squad's prospering form. As well as interest from English shores, club's from both Spain and Italy are also supposedly monitoring Bailey's development at the Bay Arena, after being earmarked as a future star of the modern game.
Money Talks
Arsenal are never without their own transfer conundrums, and with Mesut Ozil and Alexis Sanchez both stalling on their futures at the Gunners, Arsene Wenger must devise a contingency plan.
Bailey is reportedly on the Frenchman's radar - a figure of £15m has been deemed suitable enough by 'Le Prof', although in today's ludicrous transfer market, it's presumed that the north-Londoners may have to fork-out a more substantial figure if they're going to tempt 'Die Werkself' to part-ways with one of their brightest offensive assets.
However it's believed that Chelsea boss Antonio Conte is also planning to deepen the depth in his Blues ranks, and Bailey could possibly emerge as the perfect long-term replacement for Brazilian attacker Willian, if the 29-year-old is to depart Stamford Bridge in the not so distant future, that is.
Form
Bailey is an adaptable option and is able to deputise at the spearhead of the attack as well as on the flanks, making him a desirable, practical target for those in the hunt for his flourishing qualities.
Though he is not a fully-fledged international, it won't be long until he's selected by Jamaica's senior fold for his first national cap.
In 14 appearances in all domestic competitions, Bailey has registered 5 goals for Leverkusen and has also supplied his teammates with 5 assists. Possessing the ability to create as well as dispatch opportunities is a measure of his underlying calibre, and at such a young, tender age, it would be wise to predict that he will rise to the top of his natural capacity fairly promptly - Arsenal and Chelsea will be waiting eagerly to snap him up with that in mind, of course, but whether he'll ultimately become a red or a blue is yet to be seen.