Villarreal is keeping an eye on Eric Bailly, according to El Gol Digital. The Europa League champions are looking to bolster their defensive options, with Manchester United center-back Victor Lindelof being mentioned as a possible target.
Villarreal are reportedly keeping an eye on Manchester United's pursuit of Raphael Varane, which would allow them to lure Bailly away from Old Trafford.
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Eric Bailly moved to Manchester United from Villarreal for €38 million in 2016. After being a key piece in Marcelino's Villarreal outfit that reached the semi-final of the 2015/16 Europa League campaign, he was coming off a successful season in La Liga.
However, a series of terrible injuries have put an end to his Manchester United career. Bailly has had at least 15 periods on the sidelines due to injury since coming at Old Trafford, including a knee operation in 2019 that kept him out for almost six months.
Even when fully fit, Bailly has struggled to find regular playing time, particularly under current manager Ole-Gunnar Solskjaer. This previous season, he only played 915 minutes of league football. In fact, in each of his last three Premier League seasons, the centre-back has yet to play more than 1,000 minutes of league football.
Victor Lindelof and Harry Maguire's arrivals have certainly helped to reduce his prominence in the United camp.
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The Ivorian's contract was extended in April, with the current deal expiring in 2024, which was unexpected.
Is it time for Ole to cash in on Bailly?
Manchester United's upcoming season will be crucial as they attempt to build a credible title assault against Manchester City. However, it appears like Solskjaer wants to bolster his defense corps, giving Lindelof and Bailly greater competition.
Villarreal are keeping a careful eye on Manchester United's pursuit of Varane, as previously stated. The addition of the Real Madrid defender will undoubtedly have a significant impact on Bailly's future.
The Ivorian is projected to slip behind Varane, Lindelof, and Maguire in the pecking order, reducing his chances of breaking into the Red Devils' first squad.
As a result, Manchester United should seriously explore a permanent sale this summer. Bailly's move to Villarreal is not only logical from a sports standpoint, but it will also bring a small financial boost to the club as they continue to enhance their roster.
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