Pranav Kannan
Transfer News: Eric Bailly does not want to leave Manchester United
According to Dharmesh Sheth (h/t Manchester Evening News), Manchester United outcast defender Eric Bailly wants to stay on at Old Trafford and fight for a place next season.
Bailly is one of the players who have been placed on the transfer list for Manchester United ahead of next season and is expected to be shipped out. However, it seems like the Ivory Coast centre-back has different plans.
Right now, Bailly finds himself the fourth-choice centre-back at Old Trafford behind Raphael Varane, Harry Maguire and Victor Lindelof. Man United are totally expected to sign another defender and this would push Bailly even lower in the pecking order.
Whilst the Ivory Coast man definitely has the quality to succeed at centre-back and has shown his potential in a Manchester United shirt on rare occasions, injuries have not allowed him to become the player he was destined to be.
This season has been yet another disappointment for Bailly. He played just seven matches for the Red Devils across all competitions. The former Villarreal man has had a dismal time of late, struggling to get starts as Victor Lindelof has been a third-choice centre-back recently.
A fresh start might just be what Bailly needs to resurrect his faltering career and it comes as a surprise that the Ivory Coast man wants to stay on next season. But his attitude should be appreciated- this is the kind of mentality we need at the club.
Manchester United very desperately need a centre-back signing next season, someone who can come in and be a starter alongside Raphael Varane. That said, Harry Maguire would still believe he will be a regular starter next season.
An exit seems like the perfect solution but Eric Bailly needs to agree to it. It is best he does and moves on from what has been a disappointing Manchester United career and looks for pastures new.
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As long as he has a contract at the club, it wouldn’t be easy for Man Utd to move Bailly out if they want to do so and if the Ivory Coast defender doesn’t agree to it. He recently extended his stay at the club last year until the summer of 2024.
