Manchester United have announced Eric Bailly has left the club on loan for the season, joining French side Marseille.
The move was confirmed also by Marseille, whose announcement read: “An experienced, fast and powerful central defender, Eric Bailly completes OM’s backline and will use all his qualities to help the club achieve its goals.”
Bailly has been at Manchester United since 2016, making only 113 appearances during six seasons at the club.
The defender had begun the campaign as fifth choice, with manager Erik ten Hag agreeing to let Bailly depart.
READ MORE: Confirmed Manchester United transfers, ins, outs, loans, releases for 2022/23
Pros and cons of Eric Bailly loan
This loan move is a truly mixed bag of a deal where Manchester United are concerned. We will take a look through the pros and cons, and you can make your own mind up on it…
Positives of sending Eric Bailly on loan
It’s better for him: Eric Bailly’s injury has been derailed by injuries, but in the past two seasons, his lack of football was more to do with simply being overlooked by his managers.
Bailly was fit to start this season, but couldn’t make it into the side, and another frustrating year loomed. Bailly will be happier for his move, at a club where he can play regularly. He deserves the opportunitu.
United have wages fully covered: The Telegraph report Eric Bailly’s wages are being paid by Marseille. Spotrac report he earns £80,000 per week.
Negatives of sending Eric Bailly on loan
United could do with squad depth: Manchester United have four centre-backs who can be relied upon, Lisandro Martinez, Raphael Varane, Harry Maguire and Victor Lindelof. But amid a hectic fixture list, could the club actually need a fifth?
United have 10 games in October amid a condensed fixture list, increasing the chances of injuries and decreasing recovery time. Four players may not be enough to cope with the schedule.
There is still Phil Jones or Axel Tuanzebe if they survive the transfer window. Bailly is better than both. He also isn’t going to the World Cup, and like Victor Lindelof, he would have been fresh when the league resumes in late December.
It might have been selfish for United to keep him ‘just in case’, but there was a case to do so, until at least mid-January and then loan him out.
Woeful negotiating for low purchase option: United appear to have negotiated this poorly, with no loan fee, The Telegraph report – but what really takes the cake is the low purchase obligation of just £5 million.
Marseille have protected themselves by insisting Bailly must play a certain unspecified amount of games.
The fee is way too low. Bailly is surely worth more. It really feels like United have backed themselves into a corner here, for a player the club spent £30 million on, accepting a £25 million loss.
Terrible contract extension exposed: It was just in April 2021 when Eric Bailly signed a new contract extension at Manchester United.
He has barely played since, just three Premier League starts last season. Whoever at United it was that approved the extension, should reflect that it was clearly the wrong decision.
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