Ivory Coast centre-back Eric Bailly is hoping to make progress on a potential exit from Manchester United this week, according to ESPN.
United’s former number three was up in the stands alongside fellow centre-back Victor Lindelof for Erik ten Hag’s Premier League opener on Sunday.
The pair watched on as former Red Danny Welbeck caused captain Harry Maguire and new signing Lisandro Martinez all sorts of problems with his pace, physicality and willingness to run in-behind.
Unlike the Sweden national team captain, it doesn’t look like the former Villarreal man, who was Jose Mourinho’s first signing as manager of Manchester United, has a future at Old Trafford.
Eric Bailly hoping to make progress on Manchester United exit this week
The 28-year-old finds himself as low down as Ten Hag’s fifth choice centre-back with World Cup winner Raphael Varane also seemingly ahead of him in the pecking order.
Like Phil Jones and Axel Tuanzebe, ESPN report that Bailly has been told he is free to find another club before the end of the transfer window.
The report states: “Eric Bailly is hoping to make good progress on his desire to leave Old Trafford later this week.
“He is keen to seal a move away before the transfer window closes.”
The African has been linked with a move to West Ham United, Monaco or Sevilla who signed Bailly’s United teammate Alex Telles on a season-long loan last week.
Eric Bailly is yet to feature for Manchester United in 2022 and his last start for the club came in late December before he departed for the African Cup of Nations where he came off injured in a 3-1 home win against Burnley.
Apart from his first season at the club, Bailly hasn’t made more than 13 Premier League appearances in any of his other five campaigns at the Theatre of Dreams.
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