Chelsea finally announced former Napoli boss, Maurizio Sarri, as their new manager this week.
The Italian masterminded Napoli’s title challenge last season and is tasked with guiding the Blues back to the top of the Premier League. There will be no Champions League football in his first season as Antonio Conte could only steer his side to a fifth-place finish. Therefore, Sarri has a huge job on his hands to get the best out of his squad.
Missing out on a top-four place could prove costly for the club following Cristiano Ronaldo’s departure to Juventus. Real Madrid have a tremendous amount of cash to spend and will target Eden Hazard as his replacement. Much to the dismay of Chelsea fans, Hazard seems open to the idea of moving to Madrid.
Should Hazard leave, Sarri will need to replace him in the Chelsea attack. The ideal alternative could be Bayer Leverkusen wonderkid – Leon Bailey. Valued at £40.5m by Transfermarkt, the Jamaican winger rose to prominence in 2017, and his performances for Genk earned him a move to the Bundesliga.
The 20-year-old enjoyed a stellar first season in Germany, scoring 12 goals and notching six assists in all competitions. Bailey is the young, attacking threat that Chelsea needs to improve their attack. He loves to beat a man using his blistering pace and excellent dribbling skills. Bailey completed more successful dribbles than all of Chelsea’s players last season except Hazard, so would certainly bring some penetration to the Bridge.
He wouldn’t be cheap as Leverkusen do not want to lose their prized asset. However, Hazard’s sale would generate plenty of funds that must be used to bring the youngster to Stamford Bridge.
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