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This article is part of Football FanCast’s Transfer Focus series, which provides opinion and analysis on recent transfer news…
According to Tuttosport newspaper (16/07) via TuttoMercatoWeb, Milan will consider a move for Manchester United defender Eric Bailly as an alternative to signing Liverpool’s Dejan Lovren.
What’s the word?
The report claims that the Serie A giants could switch their attentions to the Ivory Coast international after appearing to be priced out of a move for Lovren.
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It adds that new Milan manager Marco Giampaolo is keen on signing a first-team defender this summer and that Bailly is amongst the club’s prime targets.
Keep him at all costs
In yet another injury-blighted season, Bailly still managed to show the type of performances that got United to sign him in the first place. The 25-year-old’s mixture of athleticism and strong defending seems like a great mix for the Premier League, but injuries and setbacks have stopped him from enjoying a sustained run in the first-team at Old Trafford.
Reports in recent weeks and months had even suggested that French side Lyon were keen on luring him away from Manchester, and now the added interest of Milan certainly confirms his status as a wanted around Europe.
Indeed, having joined the Red Devils back in 2016, Bailly is about to enter the last year of his contract at the club and cashing in on him – particularly with a move for Harry Maguire still in the pipeline – seems like a logical thing to do.
But, if the Ivorian can stay injury-free – and it is a massive if – then United will surely have the long-term centre-back partner were Maguire to arrive. Their combination of pace and power at the back would bode well for the kind of front-foot style of play Solskjaer is looking to impose at Old Trafford.
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Indeed, his former boss at Villareal, Marcelino, remarked: “He’s an extraordinary player and an extraordinary person. I wish nothing but the best for him and I feel his youth will help him through these hard times and he will be very important for United.
“I think he’s playing really well for United when he plays, but because of his injuries he’s not getting the luck he deserves.”
So whilst selling him this summer might seem an attractive proposition, keeping Bailly could see the defender eventually repay that faith.