Everton among Premier League clubs who have ‘Complicated’ Aston Villa pursuit of Leon Bailey
Everton want to sign Bayer Leverkusen winger Leon Bailey and are among the Premier League clubs complicating Aston Villa’s pursuit of the 23-year-old.
That’s according to online news outlet 90min, who claim that the Jamaican international, close friends with England star Raheem Sterling, is wanted by Leicester City, Wolves and Southampton, as well as Everton and Villa.
Bundesliga outfit Leverkusen are said to have asked for more than £25million for the fleet-footed attacker, with Villa, who have not been dissuaded by that price tag, “engaging in dialogue with both the club and his representatives”.
Five-way tussle?
This could be a difficult deal to complete given the number of Premier League clubs interested, but there’s no reason why we should not be able to come out on top.
The only side that can offer European football is Leicester, and they may well struggle to convince him that he would be granted a regular run of games given their propensity to shift to a five-man defence, and the summer signing of Patson Daka to go alongside their existing attackers.
Wolves and Southampton should pose a minimal threat if the Blues ramp up their pursuit.
Villa could be our most serious competition, given the wealth of their owners and ambitious plans, while there is also talk of Jack Grealish leaving in a big-money exit this summer, rumours that won’t subside until he signs a new contract.
Rafa Benitez has recently signed two wingers in Andros Townsend and Demarai Gray, but given their profile and costs of the moves, we’re expecting them to be squad options, rather than starting XI certainties.
Bailey would instantly command a starting spot, and his pace would offer a new dimension to a side seriously lacking in pace and width over the last few years.
28 Bundesliga goals over the past four seasons is a very respectable total, and we’re desperate to see this signing happen.
In other Everton news, Fabrizio Romano shares what ‘Napoli sources’ have told him about Blues and Kalidou Koulibaly.
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