West Ham United and Manchester United are reportedly in contact over a possible move for 28-year-old defender Eric Bailly.
According to a report by The Athletic, Eric Bailly is the subject of interest from West Ham United over a possible move in the summer transfer window. The Hammers have already contacted Manchester United for the 28-year-old defender, who wants to embark on a new challenge.
Eric Bailly has been with Manchester United for over half a dozen years but has never achieved his full potential during his stint at Old Trafford. The Ivory Coast international had enjoyed a solid debut season with Manchester United, but fitness issues have blighted his spell with the Premier League heavyweights.
Bailly has turned out over 100 times for Manchester United, but he does not have much of a future at Old Trafford after falling down the pecking order following Lisandro Martinez’s arrival in the summer transfer window. But the 28-year-old has no shortage of suitors, with West Ham United among the clubs keen on securing his services.
The interest from West Ham stems from the injury that Nayef Aguerd sustained in pre-season, with his ankle issue set to keep him sidelined for a few months. The Moroccan international might even miss the 2022 FIFA World Cup, so he will essentially miss the first half of the 2022/23 campaign.
Craig Dawson and Angelo Ogbonna are both on the wrong side of 30, with the duo currently recovering from fitness issues. That has left David Moyes with Kurt Zouma as the only recognised centre-back at his disposal, compelling West Ham to delve into the market for another central defender.
Several players, including Tanguy Nianzou, have emerged on West Ham’s radar, with Bailly also a viable target for the east London club. And the Hammers have now contacted Manchester United for the 28-year-old defender, with a few other clubs also enquiring about his availability in the last few days.
A move to West Ham might be attractive for Bailly, as he will have a point to prove in England after falling down the pecking order at Manchester United. But the 28-year-old Ivory Coast international is also open to joining clubs playing in the UEFA Champions League, thus setting up an intriguing couple of weeks in the transfer window for him.
