According to a report from the Daily Mail, Man City are emerging as favourites to land Bayer Leverkusen winger Leon Bailey as a replacement for Leroy Sane – with the Sky Blues’ financial power putting them ahead of competitors for his signature.
Bailey, who has made 17 Bundesliga appearances in total this season, scoring five goals and assisting one other in the process, is now reportedly one of City’s attacking targets as Pep Guardiola searches for a winger who can succeed Sane if he decides to depart the Etihad.
Would Bailey be a suitable Sane replacement?
Yes, absolute wonderkid
No, Sane is levels above
Once labelled ‘the new Arjen Robben‘ according to a past scout report from inews, Bailey’s ‘dazzling‘ collection of displays from his first full debut season in the German top flight could highlight the possibility he would be a potential City coup – and we are apparently ahead of Arsenal in the race for a would-be deal.
Indeed, as per the Mail, Bailey is viewed as a ‘like-for-like‘ Sane alternative – with City boss Guardiola preferring his wingers to be versatile enough to play on both flanks.
Txiki Begiristain has apparently cast his eye on the Jamaican international winger ‘significantly‘ over the last two seasons, and the Sane transfer saga seems to have cemented our interest in the 22-year-old.
Given his past reputation, despite the fact he has only started seven league matches this campaign, there appears to be potential when it comes to discussing a swoop for the attacker.
Even though City already have a collection of star wide players in Raheem Sterling, Riyad Mahrez and Bernardo Silva – if Sane were to exit Eastlands – Bailey could prove to be a smart acquisition depending on his price tag.