Premier League sides Arsenal, Chelsea and Manchester United are all set to go to battle over the signature of exciting Bayer Leverkusen winger #Leon Bailey in the summer, the club's chief has revealed. The 20-year-old has impressed since his switch to the Bundesliga a year ago and is now set to be at the head of a bidding war of the Premier League big guns.
Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger is the latest manager to express his interest in the Jamaican after the latest departure of Alexis Sanchez to the Red Devils. Despite the arrival of Henrikh Mkhitaryan, the Gunners are short on natural wide players after seeing Theo Walcott and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain head to Merseyside, with Wenger keen to invest after switching their attention from Bordeaux starlet and Tottenham target Malcom.
Speaking to German paper Bild, Leverkusen Chief Rudi Voller admitted there was interest in Bailey but claimed that the pacey winger was happy at the Bundesliga side this January. "He loves this team and he needs his teammates. He gives it back and that makes him all the more valuable to us. We’re happy with his development. We had to sign him in the winter last year because of the threat of losing him to a competitor."
Who is Leon Bailey?
The 20-year-old began his youth career at Slovenian Premier League side Trencin before joining Genk in 2015, winning the league's young player of the year award at the end of his first full season as a professional. After impressing heavily in domestic and Europa League matches he earned a €20m move to Leverkusen with the German side pipping the likes of United and Chelsea to the heavily sought after youngster.
After starting this season in electric form with nine goals and five assists he has spearheaded Die Werkself's push for a Champions League spot which will see them reluctant to let their star man leave in January. Bailey has also spoken of his dream to one day play in the Premier League and it has emerged this month that he may well be available to play for the England national side, after refusing to commit his allegiance to Jamaica following their lack of quality.
With the lack of a release clause in Bailey's current contract it looks as if any move for him from Wenger will be delayed until the summer, and with the arrival of Sanchez at Old Trafford and the formation that Antonio Conte plays with at Chelsea, it has seemingly strengthened Arsenal's case to sign the youngster in the summer, should they pay the right fee.
