Arsenal: Leon Bailey for £30 million biggest steal since Sead Kolasinac

Arsenal are reportedly capable of landing the services of Leon Bailey for £30m, which, if that’s the case, can go side by side with Sead Kolasinac.

Arsenal aren’t always the quickest to replace sold players. Gabriel Paulista was sold. No one was brought in. Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain was sold. No one was brought in. This goes back to Cesc Fabregas. Robin van Persie. So on and so forth.

However, the reported replacement for the Ox is finally hitting the radar, and his name is Leon Bailey. The best part about Leon Bailey, is that he may be able to be obtained for far cheaper than what he should be worth.

There haven’t been many reported figures thrown around for Leon Bailey. The only big clue was a supposed Chelsea bid for £22m that was – against reportedly – turned down. The subsequent report has indicated that Bailey might be available for just £30m.

If that is the case, then the table is set and all we have to do is feast. I have already covered in great detail why Bailey is the perfect everything, but just to summarize, he has the versatility to play some bugaboo positions, he has the upside to be a potentially dynamic replacement to big name exits, yet he has the modest resume to not require massive guarantees in terms of playing.

Nothing is a guarantee in the transfer market. Ever. But when you look at Leon Bailey, what he is capable of, and then the price tag that is now being tossed about, the only word that comes to mind is “steal.”

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In today’s transfer world, the price of dynamic players is outrageous, and Arsene Wenger has moaned about it more than once. There aren’t any “steals” anymore. Wenger made his fortune, he made his success, on steals.

Leon Bailey is at a stage where he can be a steal. This is all assuming that this price tag is legitimate, which, let’s be honest, is far from a guarantee.

But there comes a time when a smaller price tag cannot possibly go wrong. Sead Kolasinac, for instance, could not go wrong and he has been superb. He was a steal.

Bailey obviously could go wrong, but his price tag is setting the standard at less than the Ox. All he would have to do, then, is exceed the Ox. I thought quite highly of the Ox, but let’s be honest, exceeding him would not be that difficult.

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Plus, Bailey is a natural wide player. He prefers those wide angles. The same ones that pushed the Ox out of town.

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