According to reports, Manchester United and S.S.C. Napoli in Italy have spoken about the prospect of signing Eric Bailly this summer.
Reporter Alfredo Pedulla of CaughtOffside reports that Napoli has enquired about Bailly's availability. The Red Devils are willing to sell the 28-year-old, the source added.
It's important to keep in mind that the Serie A team is probably looking for a center-back during the current transfer window. Kalidou Koulibaly, a seasoned defender, is expected to leave the Diego Armando Maradona Stadium this summer, according to rumours from Fabrizio Romano.
Chelsea reportedly made a $40 million offer, which Luciano Spalletti's team reportedly accepted. Chelsea and the Senegalese center-back have already reached a personal agreement. The Napoli defence will likely be left with a gap after the prospective departure of Koulibaly, which they might try to cover by bringing in Bailly.
But according to the CaughtOffside source, the Ivorian is eager to remain at Manchester United. According to reports, Bailly intends to compete for a spot under Erik ten Hag's new management. The centre defender will start the last year of his deal next summer if he stays at Old Trafford for the entire upcoming season.
In Manchester United's pecking order, Eric Bailly is last.
The defence of Manchester United, which is generally porous, was a hot topic last season. Harry Maguire, Raphael Varane, and Victor Lindelof, for example, didn't have exceptionally successful campaigns. Despite this, Bailly only made seven appearances in all competitions, demonstrating how far down the pecking order he is.
Under Ten Hag, Maguire is expected to continue serving as the Red Devils' captain, which means he will probably start the majority of games. Given his background and qualifications, Varane might serve as his partner at least initially if he avoids injuries. AFC Ajax defender Lisandro Martinez has also been linked to Manchester United. They have already reached a personal agreement with the defender, according to a recent report from Fabrizio Romano. Additionally, United has dispatched personnel to Amsterdam to speak with Ajax about the transfer cost.
If they manage to get Martinez, it might further cut into Bailly's playing time. The Ivorian played well as the Red Devils defeated Liverpool 4-0 in preseason action on July 12. He might not start for Ten Hag's team, though, because of his injury issues and the sporadic headrush. Bailly moved from Villarreal CF to Old Trafford in the summer of 2016. Since then, he has only made 113 appearances for the Red Devils, playing in an average of fewer than 20 games per season across all leagues. During his tenure in Manchester, the defender has achieved notable victories like the EFL Cup and UEFA Europa League.
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