The agent of Bayer Leverkusen winger Leon Bailey has admitted he would listen to an approach from Roma for the 20-year-old, after the Italian club missed out on signing Malcom.
Roma were set to sign Malcom from Bordeaux after both clubs confirmed on Monday that a deal had been agreed, with just a medical and personal terms to be sorted.
However, just a day later the Brazilian signed for Barcelona after the Spanish champions hijacked the move for a fee believed to be in the region of £36.5m, with Malcom joining on a five-year deal.
As a result, Roma have now turned their attention elsewhere for a winger, with 20-year-old highly sought-after Bailey now their target.
But, Bailey’s agent and father Craig Butler has revealed no contact has been made from Roma for the midfielder who has also attracted interest from Bayern Munich, Manchester City and Chelsea.
“Roma were interested in Leon a couple of years ago, but since then I haven’t heard from the Giallorossi, I spoke with [then-sporting director Frederic] Massara then,” Bailey told TeleRadioStereo, via Goal.
“I do not know Monchi, maybe he does not have my number. Being linked to a great club like Roma is an honour if it were true. I don’t know if Roma are speaking to some intermediary, but they’d have to talk to me.
“It wouldn’t be wise not to listen to Roma, but always respecting our agreement with Bayer Leverkusen, a club that has my respect.”
Bailey joined Bayer Leverkusen in January 2017 from Belgian side Genk, and has since played 44 times for the club.
Bailey vs Malcom: who’s better?
With Roma now eyeing up Bailey as a replacement for Malcom, the Giallorossi will be hoping the Jamaican can bring the same influence to their team they had expected from Malcom.
Unlike Malcom, Bailey would bring more versatility to the Italian club, having played all along the left side of the midfield, including as a wing-back on the odd occasion, as well as appearances on the right. By comparison, Malcom’s favoured and best position is as a right-sided forward, playing 28 games there for Bordeaux last season.
#SquawkaScout: Malcom
• 93 take-ons
• 92 fouls won
• 87 chances created
• 75 shots
• 12 goals
• 7 assistsStuck in the middle of a transfer tussle. 🤷♂️ pic.twitter.com/ORMU6y58cs
— Squawka Football (@Squawka) July 24, 2018
However, Malcom’s output last season puts him slightly ahead of Bailey in terms of productivity and threats to the opposition defence.
The Brazilian scored 12 goals in Ligue 1 for Bordeaux, three more than Bailey managed at Leverkusen, as well as recording one more assists (seven to six). Though the figures are a lot closer when taking game time into account, with both averaging 0.4 goals per 90 minutes and 0.2 assists per 90.
Malcom’s goals did come from fewer shots, however, with the 21-year-old taking 75 (2.4 per 90) to Bailey’s 76 (3.1 per 90). And five of his 12 efforts were scored from outside the area, compared to just one of Bailey’s.
Barcelona’s new forward also created more chances at 87 (2.7 per 90) compared to Bailey’s 59 (2.4 per 90) and completed more take-ons (2.9 per 90) with a better success rate of 66% – the Jamaican managed 2.3 take-ons per 90, completing 49%.
And Malcom was also fouled almost three-times more than Bailey in their respective leagues last season, with the Brazilian stopped illegally 92 times to Bailey’s 31.
The post Bailey’s agent says Leverkusen winger would listen to Roma approach after failed Malcom bid appeared first on Squawka News.
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