Reports have emerged that Arsenal are willing to compete with rivals, Chelsea in acquiring Bundesliga talent, Leon Bailey from Bayer Leverkusen. Chelsea had already placed a bid of £22million for Bailey ahead of the January transfer window but that was rejected by the German side.
Although the Blues might come back with a higher bid, Arsene Wenger is preparing a £15million first offer for the Jamaican. Wenger will have to play his cards right to tempt Bailey out of Leverkusen and make him side with the Gunners.
It is no secret that the Frenchman has struggled to tie the services of Alexis Sanchez and Mesut Ozil to the club even after multiple contract proposals. Both of them have been heavily linked to other clubs and most likely have their feet set towards the exit door already.
If the duo does leave in January, Arsene Wenger has to find quality replacements to take up their spots for the second half of the season.
Bailey has been on a sensational run of form for Leverkusen with 5 goals in 14 appearances this season.
He arrived at Leverkusen from Belgian club, K.R.C. Genk in the January of 2017 for a fee of £12millon. Bailey marked his development as a full-fledged professional with the Belgian club, appearing in 77 matches for the side while scoring 15 and assisting 21.
The 20-year old starlet is already showing signs of future stardom and might as well be a perfect fit at the Emirates. He can be expected to take up Sanchez’s spot on the wing with the same attacking duties. Arsenal have already seen Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain move to another rival side Liverpool in the summer and right after the departure of the Chilean international he can guarantee himself a spot in the first team.
Leverkusen will be reluctant to let their best future prospect go this easily. They are competing heavily for a European qualification position in the Bundesliga and improve on their 12th spot finish last season. With Julian Brandt sidelined with an ankle injury, Leverkusen cannot afford to lose Bailey at least for the remainder of this season.
