According to Manu Lonjon, Leeds United have made a move to sign Leon Bailey. The Bayer Leverkusen attacker has emerged as the latest target for the newly-promoted Premier League club, who are desperate to add more quality in their ranks in the ongoing summer transfer window. Bailey is among the most in-demand players in the Bundesliga.
Leon Bailey: Suffering a quiet downfall at Leverkusen
Bailey has been a part of the Bayer Leverkusen side since January 2017. He has had quite the rise to prominence during his first two seasons at the club, becoming one of Bundesliga’s most gifted attackers.
In recent memory, however, Bailey has drifted away from his usual image as a pacy winger, who can terrorise opposing defences with his dynamism and trickery on the flanks.
Especially under the current coach, Peter Bosz, Bailey has even failed to become a regular member of the Leverkusen starting eleven, mustering just over 1,000 minutes of league football in the past season.
The Dutchman has often preferred Moussa Diaby ahead of Bailey at left-wing, which, at times, has left the Jamaican international to compete with the likes of Wendell and Daley Sinkgraven for the left-back role. It is clearly not a good sign for someone with so much promise, and a move away from Leverkusen could indeed be the ideal choice.
Is Bailey a viable option for Leeds United?
Bailey is an interesting choice, as far as Leeds United are concerned. He is clearly not the same player as he was, a couple of years ago and hasn’t played a great deal of football over the past couple of seasons.
That being said, the Jamaican is undoubtedly among the best Leeds can hope for, following their promotion to the Premier League. The Whites are already in desperate need for reinforcements in the attacking department, despite being able to prolong the stay of Jack Harrison while Helder Costa’s move from Wolves was made permanent.
Bailey, in that regard, should add more firepower, providing both Harrison and Costa with an incentive to fight for their places in the starting lineup. Besides, Marcelo Bielsa can also utilise his qualities in the left-back role, much like Ezgjan Alioski.
However, it all depends on how much Leverkusen demand for the services of their prized asset. Leeds United certainly cannot afford to take a €30 million or above gamble on a player, who, as mentioned earlier, is enduring a slow decline.
