Marcel Brands must deliver Leon Bailey to Everton next summer amid reports the Blues will scout the Bayer Leverkusen winger on Thursday night.

What’s the word?

According to the Daily Mail, the Toffees will have keen eyes fixed on Bayer Leverkusen’s Europa League Group Stage tie at home to Slavia Prague as they weigh up a potential 2021 move for the Jamaican.

Peter Bosz is expected to name Bailey in the starting line-up for the top of the table clash, with both sides vying for first place in Group C having already guaranteed their progression through to the Round of 32.

Bailey has become the figurehead of Leverkusen’s midfield following the departure of Kai Havertz in the summer, but has stepped into the Chelsea star’s shoes with five goals and six assists across all competitions.

The 23-year-old was forced to miss the start of the season after attending sprinter Usain Bolt's birthday party in Jamaica, but hit the ground running to help guide the BayArena natives to sit just a point behind leaders Bayern Munich in the Bundesliga standings.

Only striker Lucas Alario (10) has netted more often for Die Werkself thus far this term, too, while a string of standout displays have sparked Everton, plus Arsenal, Tottenham, Manchester United, Paris Saint-Germain and Inter Milan to place Bailey on their radars.

The Toffees and Spurs were touted as potential destinations for the 23-year-old, who has never hidden his dream to play in the Premier League, this summer.

Richarlison 2.0

Bailey has been seen as a player on Brands and his scouting team’s radar for several months now, and will no doubt be one of the stars of the show when Bayer Leverkusen host Slavia Prague on Thursday.

Bailey has forever been lauded since breaking onto the scene in Germany back in 2017, with Ajax youth coach Ronald de Boer a known fan of the wing wizard.

“He’s so fast, it’s not normal. His speed, combined with his technique, is very rare. Exceptional. He has no weak points,” De Boer once noted.

Leverkusen head coach Bosz, too, can only wax lyrical over the 23-year-old’s abilities, claiming earlier this season how Bailey is just getting better and better after a troublesome 2019/20 campaign featuring seven goals and three assists but two red cards and muscular injuries.

"Leon had it very hard, last year and early this season," Bosz said after a win over Augsburg, in which Bailey set-up Moussa Diaby's goal. "But I see that he gets better with every game - physically, but also in terms of his football."

Brands faces a mammoth fee to lure a second Richarlison-type to Goodison Park, though, as reports this summer claimed Leverkusen had slapped a price tag of just over £40million on the 8-cap international who came close to joining Bayern Munich for £55m in 2018.

AND in other news, Everton already have their answer to a 48-goal target “every coach wants”.