According to several reports from Germany, Chelsea are preparing a £85m deal to sign Bayer Leverkusen winger Leon Bailey, but they’re expected to face stiff competition from Arsenal, Liverpool and Manchester United.
The Jamaica international’s form this season has been hot and cold in the Bundesliga since a breakout 18-month spell with the club, but Bailey’s impressive substitute appearance against Rangers in the Europa League seems to have reignited the interest of top Premier League clubs.
Another report claimed Chelsea are planning a whopping £85m transfer for Bailey at the end of the season. Arsenal, Liverpool and Manchester United have also registered an interest in the Jamaica international.
Bailey, 22, has not been at his brilliant best in the Bundesliga over the last 18 months and he’s lost his first team place this season to former Paris Saint-Germain winger Moussa Diaby, while Brazilian wonderkid Paulinho is also in impressive form.
Bailey has never been worth the £85m price tag, which is being quoted in this rumour, but if the Jamaica international was sold in the upcoming transfer window, he’d more likely fetch a generous fee closer to £40m.
Chelsea will make an early approach for the player so as to beat other interested clubs to the players signature.
The 22-year-old will Join USA international Christian Pulisic who switched the Bundesliga for the West London club. Pulisic was signed January 2019. He didn’t join the club till last summer, as he was loaned back to Borussia Dortmund for the remainder of the season.
Since Frank Lampard took the reins last summer, he has managed the season with Academy graduates and players returning from loan deals. The club was serving a two window ban before it was halved late last year by the Court of Arbitration for Sport. The Blues have also announced Hakim Ziyech, the Moroccan will join the club in the summer.