Manchester United Transfer News: Marseille Closing On Eric Bailly Loan Move

Manchester United Transfer news: Defender Eric Bailly could leave Red Devils on a loan deal this summer.

Bailly has not been able to establish himself as a regular starter at the Old Trafford outfit since joining the club in 2016. He only made seven appearances for Man Utd last season, with just four of those coming in the Premier League.

Bailly does not seem to be part of manager Erik ten Hag’s preferred choice in central defense. Man Utd’s signing of Argentine centre-back Lisandro Martinez from Ajax this summer has pushed Bailly further down the pecking order.

And reports that are now emerging indicate Bailly could be on his way out of the club, although it’s far from confirmed.

Manchester United Transfer news: Marseille closing on loan move for Eric Bailly

Fabrizio Romano reports that Olympique Marseille is closing in on signing Bailly on loan from Man Utd. The deal – should it goes through – will be a loan move with an option to buy the player.

Romano adds that negotiations between Marseille and Bailly’s agents are ongoing. Bailly has not yet agreed on personal terms with Marseille as they want it, in case they decide to sign him on a permanent transfer.

Bailly last renewed his contract with Man Utd in 2021. His contract with the Red Devils runs until 2024, meaning he has two years left on his current deal.

Since joining Man Utd in 2016, Bailly has only featured for the Red Devils in 113 games. He made 38 appearances for Man Utd in his first season at the club, with 25 of those coming in the Premier League. However, he has not been able to come anywhere close to that number in the seasons since.

As aforementioned he made just seven appearances last season and appeared in 21 matches the season before. That was his second-best season at Man Utd in terms of a number of appearances.

Bailly has also not featured for Man Utd this season. The 28-year-old centre-back was not even part of Man Utd’s squad for their first Premier League games.

If Bailly decides to stay at Man Utd, he is unlikely to make regular appearances for the club. Man Utd have Harry Maguire, Victor Lindelof, Raphael Varane, and summer signing Lisandro Martinez as options in the centre-back.

Ten Hag had fielded Maguire and Varane in the starting XI for the team’s first two matches of the 22/23 campaign.