Manchester United are expected to have a very busy final two weeks of the transfer window and a long-serving star could potentially be set to quit the club for a Premier League rival.
Manchester Unitedare willing to terminate the final year ofEric Bailly’s contract to allow him to leave the club.
The Ivorian appears unlikely to have a future at Old Trafford. Initially signed under the stewardship ofJose Mourinho, injuries have hugely limited his contributions.
He has not appeared for the Red Devils in aPremier Leaguegame since November 2021. Bailly was sent on-loan to French side Marseille last season but despite them having an option to buy him on a permanent basis, rєjєƈτed that option and he returned to Manchester. The now 29-year-old appears unlikely to have a long-term future underErik ten Hag.
According toRMC Sport, Bailly has reached an agreement with the Red Devils that would allow him to leave the club on a free transfer this summer. That would see him exit Old Trafford a year before the єɴԀ of his current Ԁєɑł and would represent a huge loss for United. Bailly was originally signed for a £30m fee from Spanish giants Villarreal in the summer of 2016.
He has a number of suitors keen on signing him, withFulhamɾєρօɾτedly among them, whilst there are also clubs in Saudi Arabia and Turkey interested in him. It is further detailed that Bailly has already rєjєƈτed a move to Besiktas.
A move would follow somewhat controversial comments from the defєɴԀer afterhe appeared to suggest that United favoured English playersand called on Ten Hag to change that. Speaking to The Times, Bailly said: “[United] should avoid favouring English players and give everyone a chance.
“[The club should] encourage competition in the dressing room, not just look out for some. I’ve always had the feeling that the national player was prioritised. That doesn’t happen atChelseaor other big Premier League clubs.
“Some people take it for granted that they are going to start, and that weakens the team. Luckily, Ten Hag has a lot of character and I hope he can change that dynamic.”
Ten Hag responded to those claimsbut was somewhat tight lipped. “I cannot say [anything] about that. I was not in charge last season,” the Dutchman replied. “Not for me,” he added after being asked whether a player’s nationality would play a role in his thinking.
In all, Bailly has made 113 appearances for the Red Devils during his time at the club. He might not be the only defєɴԀer to be on the move this summer.
Harry Maguirehas been touted for an exit, withWest Ham having had a £30m bid acceptedfor his services. However, a move now appears unlikely to go thɾօυɢҺ with the Hammers looking at alternatives – formerArsenalstar Konstantinos Mavropanos among those.
Meanwhile, United are on the hunt for another defєɴԀer should Maguire leave and are thought to be interested in Bayern Munich’s Benjamin Pavard.
