According to reports, Manchester United and Marseille have reached an agreement over a loan deal for United’s defender Eric Bailly.
During his first season at Manchester United, Eric Bailly made 113 appearances for the team and scored one goal away at Swansea.
Throughout his six-year stint, Bailly’s United career has stumbled due to injury concerns, which have prevented him from obtaining a regular spot in the starting eleven.
The defender has become extremely popular among supporters at Old Trafford over the years because of his unconventional playing style and contagious attitude.
According to some publications, United will lend the 28-year-old international from the Ivory Coast for a season with an option to buy should Marseille make the Champions League qualifications the following season.
One of Jose Mourinho’s first acquisitions for United in the 2016 transfer window was Bailly, who played 38 times in his first season after moving from Villarreal.
Manchester United paid Villarreal over £30 million to gain his services in July 2016. After spending 18 fruitful months with Villarreal in La Liga, the center-back arrived at Old Trafford with great expectations.
He never went beyond 25 league appearances per season at Old Trafford due to his form and fitness issues, but being at Manchester United has been the high point of his career.
Bailly has since played 113 games for Manchester United, contributing to their victories when Manchester United won their last trophies which includes the Community Shield, League Cup, and Europa League.
The player is yet to play in a competitive game for new manager Erik ten Hag, and the team has lost several first-team players this summer, including Paul Pogba and Jesse Lingard.
To reduce the gap on Ligue 1 leaders Paris Saint-Germain, Marseille is eager to recruit the Ivorian.
If Bailly’s transfer is successful, his six-year tenure at United will come to an end temporarily and probably permanently next summer.
As was previously reported, the Ivory Coast international had numerous offers from Serie A and La Liga clubs.
A leading center-half needs to be quick, strong, and good with the ball, and Bailly has all those attributes.
He will be hoping for an injury-free period over the next 12 months to enable him to get back in shape.
According to reports, Bailly is willing to make the switch, which would put him in contact with Alexis Sanchez, a former colleague at Manchester United.
It might be a good idea for Bailly to go on to Marseille. Compared to his time at Manchester United, he will probably have more chances to play.
Additionally, it will be of a high caliber because Marseille can provide what Manchester United cannot at the moment due to their Champions League participation.
It will be crucial for Bailly to feel like a significant player someplace at the age of 28. He should take the move to Marseille seriously since they may provide him with that platform.
The final two weeks of the window are expected to be extremely busy for the United hierarchy, with both incomings and outgoings still anticipated.
After two losses, Ten Hag’s Red Devils take on Liverpool on Monday night with the hope of getting the first Premier League win of this season.
