Manchester United are closing in on one of their chief targets, Harry Maguire, who is reportedly set to join the Red Devils.
The signing of Maguire will give manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer several options at centre-back, but he will have to sell one or two defenders to bring balance to the squad.
One of the centre-backs who could leave the club if Maguire joins is Ivory Coast’s Eric Bailly, whose Manchester United career has suffered due to various injuries since joining from Villarreal in 2016.
AC Milan are rumoured to be interested in signing the 25-year-old as per Tuttosport, cited by the Daily Mail, as the Italian club’s original target, Dejan Lovren, could be far too expensive.
The report suggests that Liverpool want £18 million for Lovren, while Bailly could be available for cheaper as he enters the final year of his contract at Old Trafford.
Since signing for United, Bailly has made 74 appearances for the club but hasn’t lived up to the potential that he showed, nor the transfer fee that Manchester United paid for him.
Should Manchester United sell if a suitable offer comes in?
Bailly came into Manchester United with a lot of potential in the summer of 2016, but injuries, inconsistency, and his rash tackling have resulted in him not playing too many matches, while also not living up to expectations.
The Ivorian is a quick player who can make vital interceptions but his tackling can be worrisome for fans.
Manchester United currently have five first-team central defenders – Victor Lindelof, Chris Smalling, Phil Jones, and Marcos Rojo, apart from Bailly. United must sell at least one central defender if Maguire comes in, or even two, if they can.
Bailly could be one of the defenders who could leave as he has had many chances to prove himself at the club.
If the Red Devils get an offer between £15 million and £20 million, they should gladly accept the offer as Bailly will, at best, be a squad player if they sign Maguire. He also has just one year in his current contract which makes it the ideal time for Manchester United to cash-in and let him leave.