Bailey to mull over future with Bayer new coach

With the transfer window set to open in just under a week, Craig Butler, the adoptive father and agent of Bayer Leverkusen's forward Leon Bailey, said he is not ruling out a move for the player from the Bundesliga outfit.

Bailey has had a tough campaign this season with the German club under then coach Heiko Herrlich, where he recorded one goal and one assist in 16 games, eight of which were substitute appearances.

Herrlich was fired from the club earlier this month and was replaced by Peter Bosz.

Butler told STAR Sports that Bailey had endured a very difficult campaign at the club so far this season and therefore he would be assessing his options in the transfer market.

"I expect that Leon will do well whether he stays as Leverkusen or not in January. He is open for discussion and decision between himself and me, the management, and we will see what happens with Leverkusen," said Butler.

"There is always a possibility (of him leaving). "Leon was not happy how he was dealt with and you should not deal with players like that. The coach reaped what he sowed because he is no longer there, but at the time it is extremely important we manage the situation. We will see what happens in January, because it is a long transfer window," Butler said.

Butler added that he has past experience with Bosz, a former Ajax manager, and said he is a good individual with a lot of experience.

"It is a coach that is not alien to us because when we were at Ajax (seeking to work out a transfer with the Dutch club), we had meetings with him and he had liked Leon very much," Butler said.

"We are very close to the sporting director that left and we will look at what is available to Leon within the club and how we can go forward," he said.

The 21-year-old Bailey bagged nine goals and six assists in the 2017-2018 season. Leverkusen currently sit ninth in the 18-team table after finishing last season in fifth place.