Varun Pai
Transfer News: Tottenham Hotspur eye deal for Manchester United ace Eric Bailly in January
Speaking on the Transfer Window Podcast (h/t The Express), journalist Duncan Castles revealed that Tottenham Hotspur are keen on making a swoop for Manchester United ace Eric Bailly in January.
The Ivorian international has suffered for minutes at Old Trafford this season. Bailly managed to feature in cup competitions last season after being the third-choice centre-back. However, things have changed for the 27-year-old since the arrival of Raphael Varane.
He did not make a league start until October and then started against Atalanta and Man City. Tottenham Hotspur are now looking to seal a deal for him in January, with Antonio Conte apparently keen on signing the player.
Journalist Duncan Castles explained the North London club’s interest in the player. He told the Transfer Window Podcast (h/t The Express):
“He’s (Bailly) someone who Conte likes and was looking at as a possible recruit at Inter.
“He is obviously one of the players who got the roughest handling from Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, extremely unhappy with the way he was treated by Solskjaer, felt that it was ridiculous that Harry Maguire and Victor Lindelof were continually selected ahead of him, almost regardless of what they did on the pitch.”
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However, Castles also explained how the centre-back is ‘not pushing’ to leave the theatre of dreams. Thus, any potential deal is unlikely to be straightforward for the London outfit. Moreover, Bailly might stand a good chance of competing for a regular spot following the sacking of Ole Gunnar Solskjaer.
Additionally, he signed a new contract in April and United might not be keen on depleting their squad mid-season.
The defender could establish himself as a starter under Michael Carrick, as it appears that the interim boss is handing a fresh slate to the entire squad. He is also likely to feature in the upcoming clash against league leaders Chelsea since Raphael Varane is injured and Harry Maguire is suspended.
Having a talented fleet of centre-backs is the hallmark of any good team. Despite the club boasting players such as Maguire, Varane, and Lindelof, Bailly can still be an important player in the team considering the Red Devils will challenge for trophies on all fronts throughout the course of the season.
