West Ham United could revisit interest in Manchester United defender Eric Bailly after fresh Fabrizio Romano update
West Ham could get a fresh chance to try and sign Manchester United defender Eric Bailly this summer after Fabrizio Romano dropped an update on his future.
The Ivorian central defender was a target for David Moyes’ side last summer, before he instead opted to join Ligue 1 giants Marseille on a season-long loan deal.
There was an option in that deal to turn the loan permanent, which would have been an obligation if he had made 20 starts, but the 29-year-old is now set to return to Old Trafford after the French club opted against triggering their option.
“Understand Olympique Marseille will not trigger the buy option to sign Eric Bailly on permanent deal – he will return to Manchester United,” Romano wrote on his personal Twitter account (18 April).
“Been told Bailly will be available on the market as Man United are prepared to let him go.”
The buy option was said to be worth around £15m, but that now won’t be triggered and means that other clubs can look to step in with a deal worth similar or less considering the season he has had.
So far he has made only 14 appearances in Ligue 1 this season, with just three starts, and has found himself as fifth choice under Igor Tudor as the team sit second in the table and on course for Champions League qualification.
There is no doubting Bailly’s ability as a defender. He is quick, strong, excellent aerially and on the ball is capable of playing passes through the lines to build play.
The biggest issue has has, and has always had, is fitness. He has only managed more than 14 Premier League games in a season once before and has racked up just 70 Premier League appearances despite being in the league for six seasons.
But David Moyes and West Ham know a bargain when they see one, and Bailly could represent that if they could sort his issues out in the same way they did with Kurt Zouma then he could be a shrewd signing.
Central defence is an area that will need strengthening in the summer, and the club may have just been alerted to an ideal target for a cut-price.