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Marseille have purportedly decided against signing Eric Bailly permanently from Manchester United during the summer transfer window.
Last year, the 29-year-old center back joined Marseille on loan, and he has appeared 19 times for the French club during the 2022-23 season.
Les Olympiens have the option to acquire the Ivory Coast international on a permanent basis in the forthcoming transfer window, but according to Italian football transfer journalist Fabrizio Romano, the center-back will return to Manchester United at the conclusion of the current campaign.
“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 official Twitter account.
“Been told Bailly will be available on the market as Man United are prepared to let him go.”
Bailly’s Challenging Time in Ligue 1
Bailly has appeared 13 times for Marseille in Ligue 1 this season, in addition to five times in the Champions League group stage.
Earlier this year, the Ivorian received a seven-game suspension for a reckless challenge on Hyeres midfielder Moussa N’Diaye, which resulted in the latter requiring hospitalization.
Bailly has also missed time this season due to a leg injury, but he has appeared in seven of Marseille’s last nine matches in the French Ligue 1 this season.
The defender has not started a match since the end of February; his last four appearances have all been off the bench in the second half of his current club’s games.
Bailly made the move to Man United from Villarreal in 2016, and he has represented the 20-time English champions on 113 occasions, scoring once and providing one assist.
The center-back’s most productive campaign came in 2016-17, when he featured on 38 occasions in all competitions, but he has largely struggled to replicate that form since.
The defender never really established himself as a first choice center back following that season and also struggled with injuries.
Bailly’s existing deal with Man United is due to expire in the summer of 2024, and the 20-time English champions are allegedly hoping to move him on ahead of the 2023-24 campaign.
Bailly Could Be Replaced with Ten Hag’s Choice of Defender
Dutch manager Erik ten Hag is rumored to be interested in signing another reliable center back that could potentially compete with Lisandro Martinez and Rafael Varane for a starting position at the center of his defense.
Axel Tuanzebe and Phil Jones are also set to leave Old Trafford this summer, while there is speculation surrounding the futures of both Harry Maguire and Victor Lindelof due to their struggles for starts this term.
The pair were once the starting senior center backs under Ole Gunnar Solskjaer but have moved down the pecking order in Ten Hag’s first season in charge.
The pari have started recent matches for Man United as Varane and Martinez have endured injuries. Their performances until the end of this season could decide their faith at the club as Ten Hag relies on them.
Next up, the side face Sevilla in the Europa League at Ramon Sanchez-Pizjuan Stadium on Thursday evening. The sides head into the second leg of the tie at a 2-2 stalemate.
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