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Leon Bailey
Photo:
Matthias Balk / DPA
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Leverkusen lets Bailey go
Bundesliga club Bayer Leverkusen have confirmed Leon Bailey's move to Aston Villa. The club announced that they had agreed on a transfer with the English first division club. The English announced last Saturday that they had reached an agreement in principle with Bayer on the move. Nothing was known about the transfer modalities. According to "Kicker", the transfer fee should amount to 32 million euros, the sum could increase to 35 million through bonuses. The 23-year-old Jamaican came to Leverkusen from KRC Genk in January 2017 for 13.5 million euros and scored 39 goals in 156 competitive games for Bayer, as well as providing 26 assists. "In Leverkusen he went from being a talent to a top player," said sports director Simon Rolfes.
Villa finished the previous Premier League season in eleventh place.
It is unclear whether the Bailey transfer is related to another change.
It has been known for weeks that star player Jack Grealish is being courted by champions Manchester City.
For the 25-year-old Grealish, who, like Bailey, is usually used on the front left, a transfer fee of around 100 million euros should be due.
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Frankfurt apparently brings Milans Hauge
According to matching media reports, Eintracht Frankfurt is about to sign offensive player Jens Petter Hauge.
When the 21-year-old Norwegian changed from AC Milan to the Bundesliga club, only details had to be clarified, according to Kicker and Bild.
Accordingly, the offensively flexible talent should first be loaned, the Eintracht should also secure a purchase option.
After the departure of top striker André Silva, who moved to league rivals RB Leipzig, sports director Markus Krösche has to fill the offensive of the Europa League participant.
A new striker has already been signed in Rafael Borré.
It is not yet foreseeable whether winger Filip Kostić and creative actor Amin Younes will definitely stay with Eintracht for the new season.
Tuchel's Chelsea are said to be courting star striker Lukaku
Champions League winners Chelsea are apparently serious about signing a new striker.
Coach Thomas Tuchel's club is offering Italian champions Inter Milan 105 million euros for Belgian international Romelu Lukaku, plus left-back Marcos Alonso as an exchange player, according to a report by Gazzetta dello Sport.
The negotiations are therefore ongoing, but the financially troubled Milanese are allegedly demanding 130 million euros.
The London club is looking for a center forward and is said to have recently unsuccessfully sought Erling Haaland from DFB Cup winner Borussia Dortmund.
Lukaku had already been under contract with Chelsea from 2012 to 2014, but only made 15 appearances there (also due to a loan) before the club sold him to Everton.
Lukaku is now one of the best center strikers in the world.
mon / dpa / sid
