Bayer Leverkusen agree personal terms with Manchester United target

Bayer Leverkusen head coach Roger Schmidt has confirmed the Bundesliga outfit are interested in signing highly rated Genk forward Leon Bailey.

The 19-year-old has been heavily linked with a high profile move to Manchester United in recent months and was omitted from Genk’s matchday squad for Monday’s encounter with KV Kortrijk fuelling speculation is on the verge of leaving the Belgian outfit.

However, Jose Mourinho's side may have to step up their interest in Bailey or risk losing out on his signature after Leverkusen's head coach confirmed the side's interest in the Genk starlet.

“He’s got a lot of pace, he’s technically skilled, and someone we are looking at in the long run,” Schmidt told Rheinische Post, via ESPN on Monday. “Everything else would be derelict.”

Leverkusen have reportedly already agreed personal terms with Bailey and must now decide whether to match Genk's €20m (£17m) valuation, which would make him the club’s joint-record signing following the £17m acquisition of Kevin Volland at the start of the campaign.

Bailey has enjoyed a superb first half to the Europa League campaign this season and is currently the third highest rated player in the competition (8.10) after scoring four goals in six appearances during the group stages.

Not only does he average more shots per game (4.7) but only two players average more dribbles per game than the Genk teenager (3.8).

For more stats on Leon Bailey, click here to visit his WhoScored player page