Newcastle United has been offered the chance to recruit Manchester United outcast, Eric Bailly, according to the Daily Mirror, h/t HITC. After seeing his game time dramatically reduced owing to form and injury, the Ivory Coast international is seeking greener pastures.
Bailly joined Manchester United from Villarreal in 2016, but he was unable to establish himself in the Red Devils’ back line. He has been injured frequently and has not taken advantage of the possibilities that have been presented to him. He has 113 appearances for Manchester United in six seasons, including 38 in his first season with the club.
Due to the signing of Raphael Varane last season and Manchester United’s search for a new central defender, which, if successful, will further limit Bailly’s playing time, the club is prepared to sell him this summer. He only made seven appearances for the Red Devils in all competitions during the recently finished season.
Newcastle United has emerged as an alternative for the 28-year-old, who is looking for a club where he can play more often. The Magpies are on the lookout for a new center-back this summer, and Lille‘s Sven Botman is at the top of their wish list. Their pursuit of Botman, however, is not proceeding as planned.
Newcastle hoped to sign the defender for £30 million and thought they had a deal with Lille in place. However, the Ligue 1 club raised its asking price to £36 million, putting the deal on hold. If the 2020/21 French champions do not decrease their asking price, Newcastle is prepared to abandon their chase.
The club has accepted Bailly’s offer, and the Magpies are in a position to complete the transaction. With new owners in place, the former Villarreal defender is said to earn £80,000 a week at Manchester United, which should not be a problem for Newcastle.
Bailly has extensive English and European football experience, having won the UEFA Europa League and the EFL Cup with Manchester United. The Daily Mirror story does not specify if the move to Newcastle will be a loan or a permanent one.
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