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Bayern Munich linked with Leverkusen youngster Bailey

Germany Soccer Bundesliga

Hannover’s Matthias Ostrzolek and Leverkusen’s Leon Bailey challenge for the ball during the German Bundesliga soccer match between Bayer Leverkusen and Hannover 96 in Leverkusen, Germany, Saturday, May 12, 2018. (AP Photo/Martin Meissner)

AP

The vicious Bundesliga cycle may be about to continue.

According to multiple reports around Europe, including ESPNFC’s Raphael Honigstein, Bayern Munich has had a bid rejected for Bayer Leverkusen winger Leon Bailey and could be coming back with an increased offer soon.

The 20-year-old Bailey, already a Jamaican international, had a stellar season with Bayer scoring nine goals and assisting six more in 30 Bundesliga appearances, although he fell off a bit at the end of the season with just one goal after January.

According to the ESPN report, Bayern’s initial offer was for a whopping $70 million. Meanwhile, it states that Bayer values Bailey closer to $120 million, so one would expect the two to meet somewhere in the middle. The report also states that Real Madrid has expressed interest as well, and a bidding war could drive the price higher. Honigstein also states that a number of Premier League clubs have “closely followed his progress” and

Bailey arrived from Belgian side Genk just 18 months ago, and could represent a massive return on investment for Bayer this summer.

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