Marseille closing in on loan move for Manchester United defender Eric Bailly

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Ligue 1 side Marseille are closing in on loan move for Manchester United defender Eric Bailly, according to Fabrizio Romano.

The Ivory Coast international has found himself as low down as the club’s fifth-choice centre-back under Erik ten Hag.

Despite Victor Lindelof not forming part of the matchday squads for the two Premier League games of the season so far, United’s number three has been overlooked.

With captain Harry Maguire and new signing Lisandro Martinez starting the two chastening defeats to Brighton & Hove Albion and Brentford, Raphael Varane has been named on the bench as the back-up centre-back.

Marseille closing in on loan move for Manchester United defender Eric Bailly

The 28-year-old has been a Manchester United player for six years having been signed by Jose Mourinho from La Liga side Villarreal.

The Ivorian was the Portuguese man’s first Red Devils signing, but he’s been riddled with injuries throughout his career at Old Trafford and finds himself way down the pecking order.

Joining Marseille, who will participate in this season’s Champions League after finishing second last year, and hopefully establishing himself as a starter is what Bailly needs to resurrect his stagnating career.

The French giants are working on an initial loan deal with the option of making Bailly’s stay at the Stade Velodrome permanent included.

Bailly hasn’t started a game for Manchester United since December 2022 against Burnley when he came off injured.

He has more starts in 2022 for his country (five) than he does his club. The all-action aggressive defender made seven appearances for the Reds last season.

Bailly has made 113 appearances for the twenty-time league champions since making the move from the Yellow Submarine.

Judging by where he falls in Ten Hag’s thinking, it’s hard to envisage appearance number 114 ever materialising for Manchester United.

A move to The Olympians would see Bailly reunite with former Manchester United man Alexis Sanchez.