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What's the rumour?
Chelsea looks like the frontrunners in the race to land Bayer Leverkusen winger, Leon Bailey. Chelsea leads the pack ahead of rivals Arsenal and Manchester United. As first reported by The Sun, the team from Leverkusen are set to demand a three figure amount for Bailey.
In case you didn't know...
Bailey was signed by Bayer Leverkusen from KRC Genk in Belgium in January 2017 for a sum of €20 million. He made a few appearances last season as a substitute in the league.
But the story has been completely opposite this season. His impressive performances have earned him with a guaranteed spot in the starting XI. His electric pace and trickery on the flanks have left opposition defences in tatters. In his 18 Bundesliga appearances, Bailey has scored 8 goals and has made 5 assists.
The heart of the matter
The dynamic winger is good with both feet but generally prefers his left foot. The Jamaican averages 3 shots, 2 key passes and 2 dribbles per game. He has been a key figure in Bayer's rise in the Bundesliga table.
His link-up play and partnership with his fellow frontman have proven to be successful for Bayer, as their goals per game ratio have gone up and the club has risen up to second place in the table. He has been one of the stand out performers at his club this season.The left-sided winger's key attributes are his speed, dribbling, vision and a powerful shot.
Rumour probability/rating: 7/10
With the growing interest in Bailey from the English clubs, the 20-year-old has stated his intentions of playing in the Premier League and has set his heart on a move to Chelsea. The youngster is currently tied down to a contract until 2022. He could be eyed as a potential replacement for Eden Hazard if the latter happens to depart for Real Madrid in the summer.
Leverkusen will be resistant in the summer as the German club are not interested in selling their prized asset since it has only been a year since he has joined the club.
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Author's take
The move to Stamford Bridge would be the perfect destination for Leon Bailey. He looks to be ready to make the switch to one of the top leagues in the world. In 2015, he had posted a photo of himself in a Chelsea shirt on his Twitter account.
If Eden Hazard happens to swap London for Madrid, Bailey would be the ideal man to replace the Belgian. He has got the necessary skill set for a Premier League player and would be the perfect man to fill in Hazard's shoes.
The 2017 Premier League Champions appear to be the first preference of the Jamaican and should an offer come to the German club in the summer, Bailey might do everything in his power to force a move through to England.
