According to a recent report by the Daily Express, Premier League giants Chelsea are claimed to be lining up an £85m summer move for Bayer Leverkusen winger Leon Bailey, with clubs like Manchester United, Arsenal and Liverpool also said to be interested.
Even though German giants Bayern Munich have also been strong followers of the Jamaican’s progress, Leverkusen’s unwillingness to sell within the Bundesliga could spell good news for any Premier League suitors as well. The report also claims that the Blues had scouts keeping a keen eye on the youngster during the Europa League tie against Rangers and that Lampard has already green-flagged the approach.
Why Is Lampard Still Looking For Additional Wingers At Chelsea?
The London side didn’t have the greatest starts to the season under the tutelage of Frank Lampard, but gradually, they did find their feet. With that said though, it must be considered that the London club have spent most of the season without the presence of some of their best attacking players, in the form of Christian Pulisic and Callum Hudson-Odoi.
Even with them on the side, it could be argued that the pair of them are still far too young to be delivering consistently. Also, the advancing age of stars like Willian and Pedro is sure to be a concern for Lampard. Despite their decent league position, the Blues still have massive scope for improvement, and if the gaffer is given time at Stamford Bridge, he could eventually work wonders.
What Would Leon Bailey Add To This Chelsea Team?
The speedster is renowned for his ability to get past players in the wide areas, while he also tends to be a sharp finisher inside the opposition box. The youngster’s display against Rangers was filled with great individual moments that would’ve definitely caught Frank Lampard’s eye. The Blues have been struggling in terms of wide play this season, and there’s no denying that Leon Bailey would be an upgrade over Spanish veteran Pedro.
Young and dynamic in his approach to the game, the Jamaican boasts a high-energy skill-set, and despite his tender age, the winger shows great maturity while on the pitch. Moreover, the fact that the 22-year-old is yet to prove himself at a big European club will be viewed as an advantage by Frank Lampard. The gaffer managed the development of players like Reece James, Billy Gilmour and even Christian Pulisic superbly this season, and the Stamford Bridge hero could be the right man to get the best out of the Jamaican as well.
Why The Blues Must Move For Bailey In The Summer
Chelsea are undoubtedly one of the country’s biggest clubs, and their ambitions are just as high as their reputation. With European football effectively guaranteed for next season, the need for reinforcements in the offensive areas of the pitch is quite high. Bailey’s dynamism and directness in the final third could be precisely the kind of catalyst this Chelsea team needs to click once again.
Even with gifted players like Mateo Kovacic and Ross Barkley in their ranks, the Blues have struggled to find creativity this season consistently, and Bailey could be a one-stop solution to that problem. Quite similar to Willian when he was younger, Bailey has the uncanny ability to run past defenders like the wind. With the possibility of pairing him up with the likes of Pulisic and Hudson-Odoi on the table as well, Lampard will do well to secure this £85m deal in the summer.
