It is widely accepted that Kai Havertz is on his way out of Bayer Leverkusen this summer with Chelsea expected to pay big money for the Werkself’s talented attacker, but could Leon Bailey also be on the move from the Bay Arena?
The 22-year-old has recently changed agents from his stepfather to Colossal Sports Management and Aidy Ward, and Ward has revealed that a departure from Leverkusen could be on the cards if the price is right.
“The club has told his stepfather that he can go for a certain amount,” Ward told Sport1. “As soon as I’ve spoken to the club and the situation is clear, we will know what to do. If the club wants to sell, that’s no problem.”
Bailey has a contract at Leverkusen until 2023 so the club have no immediate need to sell but should interested parties Tottenham or Everton make a bid of €40 million, then the Jamaican left winger’s time in the Bundesliga could be at an end.
There was much speculation over Bailey after the winger enjoyed a fantastic 2017-18 season with Leverkusen scoring nine goals and adding six assists. Speculation arose that Bayern were interested in him as a potential heir to Frank Ribéry. In the end he remained in the Rheinland, but his form has dipped slightly in recent seasons.
Last season he made 22 league appearances, but only 12 of them were as a starter. The arrival and success of Moussa Diaby has impinged upon his game time, as did a torn muscle injury. Suspensions following two red cards (vs Mönchengladbach and Köln) also didn’t help him regain his form or place in the team. He scored five times and provided three assists.
Bailey has never hidden his ambition to one day play in England, Bayer Leverkusen just need to decide whether this summer is the most opportune moment for them to sell. In Paulinho, Diaby, Nadiem Amiri, Florian Wirtz and Karim Bellarabi (who is poised to sign a new contract), Peter Bosz is equipped with alternatives in attack.
Aidy Ward is an agent, who gets deals done as he showed when orchestrating Raheem Sterling’s move from Liverpool to Manchester City. As soon as there is a sign that a Premier League club are prepared to match Leverkusen’s asking price, there could be another summer exit from the Bay Arena on the cards.
