Ligue 1 giants Lyon have reportedly entered the race to sign Manchester United’s defensive outcast Eric Bailly.
According to a report from But!FootballClub, Lyon have become the latest club to be linked with a move for Eric Bailly. The Manchester United defender has been placed on the transfer list by the Premier League giants, with many clubs more than willing to secure his services at the end of the season.
Lyon’s Ligue 1 rivals Marseille had considered the possibility of signing Bailly earlier in the year. Newcastle United have been in the fray as well, but it appears Lyon have entered the race, hoping to lure the Manchester United defender to the Groupama Stadium by offering him regular game-time.
The Ligue 1 outfit are bracing themselves for a summer of change in the defensive unit. They want to part ways with Jerome Boateng at the end of the season, while Jason Denayer has had his fair share of problems with injuries. The same can be said for Sinaly Diomande as well, leaving coach Peter Bosz with limited options at his disposal.
The Dutch mastermind is ideally looking for a defensive partner for Castello Lukeba next season. And it appears Eric Bailly fits the bill well for Lyon, due to his vast experience at the highest level of football, coupled with his dogged defensive nature that could serve the Ligue 1 giants well.
Manchester United themselves had rated Eric Bailly highly over the years. But the defender has become a victim of the club’s lavish policies in the transfer market, falling behind the big-money signings such as Victor Lindelof, Harry Maguire and most recently, Raphael Varane in the pecking order.
Injuries have also played a key role in stifling the Ivorian’s progress. And with Manchester United set to begin a new chapter under Erik ten Hag, Bailly has been given the green light to leave the club at the end of the season.
Eric Bailly could welcome a move to Lyon as his style of play could be ideally suited to Bosz’s tactical philosophy. The Manchester United defender should not find it difficult to get regular game-time either, as he is likely to serve as a first-choice option alongside Lukeba and Denayer.
Meeting the Ivorian’s wage demands, though, could be a tricky task for Lyon unless they can immediately offload the unwanted stars, including Boateng.
