Leon Bailey has been considered a young player to keep an eye on for a while now, so it’s no surprise to see him linked with a Premier League move. And, naturally, Jose Mourinho’s Manchester United are involved.
Before Bailey moved to Genk, the winger was strongly linked with Chelsea, and after the move the player’s father said: “Chelsea wanted him, but Leon did not want to be stabled at Mouscron.”
Antonio Conte is the man in charge now, but who was manager of Chelsea in summer 2015? Jose Mourinho of course. However, if Chelsea were just interested in signing Bailey and sending him out on loan, the youngster would have been a Michael Emenalo deal.
Since then Bailey has settled in at Genk and is dutifully impressing, so the rumours come around once more. Last week we covered a report from Belgium, and said at the time:
‘Belgian newspaper Het Belang van Limburg report on what they say are English claims about Manchester United and Genk’s Leon Bailey. It’s stated Bailey is ‘hot’ in England, but in all honesty there’s not really been a great deal of serious reporting on the player moving to Manchester United.
Much of what has been claimed is based on assumption after Manchester United took on a scout from Genk. The Belgian take on this seems to be prompted by very little.
Regardless, HBVL mention an offer of €17.5m, we assume this is speculated about Manchester United. However, that wouldn’t be enough for the 18 year old, with the newspaper stating that, according to their own information, Genk would be expecting ‘a minimum asking price of €20m’.’
A couple of days ago, Het Belang van Limburg covered the situation again, in an article about Bailey and his Genk teammate Wilfred Ndidi. Leicester City are apparently interested in Ndidi, again in claims which originated in Belgium, and HBVL said the Foxes had proposed to pay Genk €18m with a further set of bonuses which could see that amount rise to €21m.
That wasn’t enough, and Genk’s sporting director Dimitri de Condé was quoted talking up the price for both the players: “Ndidi and Bailey have both indicated that they want to stay until the end of the season. But suppose there comes a mega bid and in that scenario they suggest they want to go. Then it becomes very difficult to keep them here.”
After the idea of a €20m to €25m offer was put to the Genk official, he said: Condé “You know we never communicate about transfer fees. But for players with their status it seems to me a justified amount, yes.”
Now, maybe we’re being unfair here, but the way these stories have developed may well suggest that Genk are at least half keen on selling one of their stars should a decent bid come in. Perhaps even happy to encourage it.
They may have some trouble convincing Bailey, who sounds like he has his head firmly bolted to his shoulders. Speaking to another Belgium newspaper, HLN, Bailey was asked how he deals with reports of Manchester United, PSG and Ajax interest, and a price of €20m being put on his head: “I’ve come down a long and difficult road to get to where I am now in my career. Mentally I am much stronger than most think. I’m really not concerned with the price Genk has stuck on my head. For me the focus is always on the next game and playing in the shirt of Genk.”
Pressed on a possible winter transfer, Bailey said: “I want what’s best for me and for Genk. Genk has done a lot for me. Years ago they have given me the opportunity to develop myself here. I’ve always felt at home here, which you cannot just forget.
“It is thanks to this evolution (of his game) in Genk that the big clubs are starting to follow me. My career does not stop at Genk, I’m sure.”
When asked about which league is attracting his attention the most, Bailey gave another sensible answer: “From early on it was always my dream to go to the Premier League. But what if Manchester United want to come and get me, but they cannot guarantee that I will play? Then for me to go is not that simple. If I do not get guarantees of playing, then I’ll just stay at Genk… I do not go to a big club in order to sit on the bench.”
Reading between the lines, and taking the liberty of assumption, it would seem to us that Genk are gently edging the idea of an Ndidi or Bailey winter transfer out to the market. They can’t be seen to be outright hawking the players, but at €20m to €25m it would be an excellent financial boost for the Belgian club.
Bailey may have other ideas, and Manchester United may well be simply a prop in this evolving play.
