Who is…the Genk winger Manchester United have been tracking?
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Manchester United could add yet more young talent to their forward line, after keeping track of a teenage winger playing in Belgium.
Genk’s Leon Bailey has been scouted a couple of times by the Red Devils according to the Daily Mail, including in a recent Europa League clash against Sassuolo in which he scored.
The left-winger, who can also operate from the opposite touchline or through the middle, would join an already swollen attacking unit at Old Trafford should interest in him develop into a move.
Anthony Martial, Jesse Lingard and Marcus Rashford could be the Red Devils’ front three for a number of years, which would make cracking the starting lineup an extremely tough task for Bailey.
The 19-year-old has already had something of a globetrotting career. Born in Jamaica, the Kingston native joined the youth setup of Slovakian side AS Trencin, before reportedly turning down both Chelsea and Ajax to move to Genk last year.
Bailey made 25 Jupiler League appearances for the Blauw-Wit last season, scoring four goals and laying on seven assists.
His contributions helped Genk qualify for the playoffs to decide the Europa League participants, where a 5-3 aggregate win over Charleroi earned the club European football this term.
It appears playing in Uefa-branded competition brings the best out of the teenager, with Bailey netting six times in eight Europa League outings thus far including the qualification rounds.
It’s likely that the Belgian league’s current Young Player of the Year will have to impress United scouts a few more times if he is to earn the big switch to Old Trafford, but he has certainly laid down an impressive early foundation.
All Odds and Markets are correct as of the date of publishing
