According to reports in The Sun, Chelsea are lining up a £20m January bid for Bayer Leverkusen winger Leon Bailey, who they may see as Willian's long-term replacement.

What's the word, then?

Well, The Sun says that the 20-year-old attacker has already been scouted on three occasions by the Blues this season, and he was also watched a number of times when he was at Genk last term.

The Sun says that if the west London outfit did complete a deal for the Jamaica international in January that they would be willing to loan him straight back to the Bundesliga outfit, and they are hoping that is a deal that will tempt Leverkusen to sell with Barcelona also interested.

The report adds that the player is another project of the club's recruitment department, rather than a target for manager Antonio Conte.

How has Bailey done this season?

With eight goals and 10 assists in 35 appearances in all competitions for Genk prior to his move to Bayer Leverkusen in January, the Bundesliga outfit would have been hopeful that the 20-year-old could make an instant impact.

No goals and one assist in the second-half of the 2016/17 campaign was a little underwhelming, but the Jamaican wide-man has impressed this term by netting five goals and providing a further two assists in 12 outings in total.

According to Squawka, prior to the clash against Borussia Dortmund last weekend the attacker has shown his creative ability by making 21 chances for his teammates in 10 Bundesliga appearances, while he has shown his dribbling ability by successfully completing 13 take-ons.

Would he be a good signing for Chelsea?

He certainly would be.

Bailey is quick and looks to have huge potential to improve in the future, while he is also able to play on either flank.

While it is unclear whether he would be able to play in the wing-back roles that Conte favours, the 20-year-old certainly has the quality to play as one of the two in the 3-4-2-1 system or potentially as a No 10 or striker in the 3-5-1-1 or 3-5-2 systems we have seen recently.

While Eden Hazard continues to shine, Bailey could be the ideal Willian replacement for the Blues with the Brazilian looking increasingly likely to leave Stamford Bridge.

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