---
title: "Liverpool must hijack Chelsea’s big-money swoop for Bailey"
canonical: "https://readliverpoolfc.com/articles/liverpool-must-hijack-chelseas-big-money-swoop-for-bailey/"
type: "post"
language: "en-GB"
author: "Henry Jackson"
section: "Articles"
published: "2020-03-17T08:00:00Z"
modified: "2020-03-17T08:00:00Z"
---

# Liverpool must hijack Chelsea’s big-money swoop for Bailey

Liverpool are set to battle Chelsea, Manchester United and Arsenal in the race to sign Leon Bailey, according to the [Ex](https://www.express.co.uk/sport/football/1255354/Chelsea-news-85m-Leon-Bailey-transfer-Liverpool-Man-Utd-Arsenal-latest-gossip)[p](https://www.express.co.uk/sport/football/1255354/Chelsea-news-85m-Leon-Bailey-transfer-Liverpool-Man-Utd-Arsenal-latest-gossip)[ress](https://www.express.co.uk/sport/football/1255354/Chelsea-news-85m-Leon-Bailey-transfer-Liverpool-Man-Utd-Arsenal-latest-gossip).

The 22-year-old starred for Bayer Leverkusen last week, [scoring](https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/51726183) in his side’s 3-1 win away to Rangers in the Europa League.

Bailey is being looked at by a host of top English clubs, with Liverpool [reportedly](https://www.express.co.uk/sport/football/1255354/Chelsea-news-85m-Leon-Bailey-transfer-Liverpool-Man-Utd-Arsenal-latest-gossip) in the mix to snap him up.

The report [states](https://www.express.co.uk/sport/football/1255354/Chelsea-news-85m-Leon-Bailey-transfer-Liverpool-Man-Utd-Arsenal-latest-gossip) that Chelsea are eyeing up a huge £85 million bid for the winger, highlighting his potential.

### Read Liverpool Verdict

I believe Bailey could be a perfect addition to the Liverpool squad this summer, representing a step up from the [outgoing](https://readliverpoolfc.com/2020/02/27/shaqiri-expected-to-follow-lallana-out-of-liverpool-this-summer/) Xherdan Shaqiri. The Swiss has struggled to consistently impress in a Reds shirt and Jurgen Klopp could do with a superior option acting as a back-up to Mohamed Salah and Sadio Mane.

I think Bailey could be just that, as outlined by [five goals](https://www.whoscored.com/Players/327682/Show/Leon-Bailey) in 14 Bundesliga appearances this season, as well as an average of [1.6 dribbles and 1.0 key passes](https://www.whoscored.com/Players/327682/Show/Leon-Bailey) per game in the Bundesliga.

As a comparison, [Salah](https://www.whoscored.com/Players/108226/Show/Mohamed-Salah) averages 1.7 and 1.9, meanwhile [Mane](https://www.whoscored.com/Players/109915/Show/Sadio-Man%C3%A9) manages 1.8 and 1.6, respectively.

The only stumbling block could be the price tag – I don’t see a scenario where Liverpool could pay £85 million for Bailey and still bring in Jadon Sancho and Timo Werner, for example.

It is a huge sum of money for a player who remains relatively unproven, but as an upgrade on Shaqiri, he could be a great addition to Klopp’s squad without dislodging either Mane or Salah.