Some players are linked with a move to a club but nothing ever materialises.
Thomas Müller is frequently called a Manchester United transfer goal. There are countless other examples of this, too, and each club has its legendary beast. The 1 player they are destined to not signal regardless of the countless links.
However, Chelsea, however, could defy the odds to signal their longest of long-term aims. According to reports, the Blues are, once more, exploring the possibility of registering Leon Bailey. The Bayer Leverkusen wideman has been on their wishlist since 2015 and each transfer window sees the speedster recognised as a possible arrival.
The 22-year-old named Chelsea among the clubs that tried to sign him 2015 switch to Genk.
“Chelsea, Liverpool, Juventus, were clubs that my name had been connected with, contacted by. Everyone wanted me, but not everybody could get the paperwork in order,” Bailey said. “I did it (linking Genk) for my development, not the greatest club. I must play my age and advancement.”
The Blues tried to signal Bailey again in January 2017 simply to see him wind up in the BayArena. Reports at the time asserted Bailey turned Chelsea and Manchester United down so as to play first-team soccer with Bayer Leverkusen.
His form caught the attention of each top European group and Bayern Munich appeared his likeliest destination together with the Bavarian giants searching for someone to finally triumph Arjen Robben.
Bailey struggled for form and the shift in direction did not do him any favours. His output significantly dropped and interest in him.
Despite making only seven starts this season he has already matched his return of five goals and one assist last term. He is performing for Leverkusen on the big events, also.
His last outing for B04 before soccer was stopped was at the 3-1 Europa League triumph over Rangers. Bailey scored and the Sunday Express asserts Chelsea had scouts in attendance.
Frank Lampard’s side should freshen up their attacking positions. Pedro and Willian are turning down their Chelsea livelihood and are out of contract this summer.
But, Borussia Dortmund’s requirements are somewhat excessive, with reports indicating that need more than #120milliuon for the England international.
Zaha is a good deal of things but a reliable goalscorer he’s not. He is a menace in broad areas but Chelsea need somebody who can combine trickery with goals. Without the former, you are a passenger in the assault. Bailey provides both.
On a per 90 foundation, he is attempting 4.83 dribbles and finishing 65 percent of those. He is not overly reliant on quantity. Whereas, by way of instance, Eden Hazard tried near seven mph 90 during his final season at Stamford Bridge. The Bayer Leverkusen No.9 is a powerful, instead of elite, ball carrier. But he doesn’t need to be.
What makes Bailey a much more intriguing solution is that he is a left-footer playing on the left. In theory, it needs to be much easier to guard against him. Opponents can pin the explosive winger from the byline and push him out of play. But, as the picture shows, he completes a large number of his tried dribbles, primarily on the left flank.
Granted, the sample size is not the biggest given the 22-year-old has suffered from injuries and missed games through suspension following two red cards. He is adding value to his efforts with his positioning, too.
His anticipated goals average is 0.5 but his post-shot expected goals ordinary, a metric that takes into consideration that the final destination of the shooter and not just where it had been taken from, is 0.57.
Bailey is incorporating 0.07 to his shots on a per 90 basis. Over the course of a year, that’s nearly three more goals, purely due to his finishing ability. The below image helps clarify why that is.
Bailey has not had many shots on goal this year, 11 in total, yet 45 percent have hit the corners and three of his five goals have arrived in these regions. He may not be in exactly the exact same stratosphere as Sancho when it comes to standing but, concerning the effect, he is just as powerful for Chelsea and for a fraction of the purchase price.
Reports claim the German club anticipate a bid in the region of £80million for Bailey. Pricey, yes, but it’s the going rate for a player of the profile. This movement has been five years in the making but now could be the best time for Chelsea to make it.
With all eyes on other Bundesliga stars, the Blues could find a free run at the Jamaican.
