Prolonged negotiations paid off for Manchester United as they have finally struck a deal with Ajax for Lisandro Martinez. But his arrival has further jeopardized Eric Bailly’s future despite a headstrong defensive display against bitter rivals Liverpool in a pre-season fixture. According to Italian journalist Alfredo Pedulla, Napoli are weighing up a summer move following Kalidou Koulibaly’s Chelsea transfer.
The 28-year-old Ivory Coast international progressed through the youth ranks of Espanyol before breaking into their senior side back in 2014. The then emerging centre-half was roped in by Villarreal in January 2015, but his La Liga stint eventually came to an end when the Red Devils splashed £30m back in June 2016.
Bailly was the first signing of Jose Mourinho’s brief yet successful stint as the Red Devils chief. The Portuguese guided them to conquer the EFL Cup and UEFA Europa League silverware and the Ivorian, with 38 appearances in all competitions, was highly praised for his contribution in the defensive third.
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Why Manchester United Should Let Him Go
Meanwhile, persistent injury problems refrained him from cementing a regular role in the heart of the backline. It’s been a stop-start spell so far and the defender slipped way down the pecking order with just 7 appearances last season under Ralf Rangnick and Ole Gunnar Solskjær. He is now the fourth-choice centre-back behind Harry Maguire, Raphael Varane and Victor Lindelof, also the arrival of Martinez has potentially drawn an end to his disappointing days in the red half of Manchester.
Man United are likely to keep hold of veteran Phil Jones who has accepted a bit-part role over the past three campaigns. They have ample depth in deep defence and Bailly, therefore, must ply his trade elsewhere in order to attain regular game-time away from Old Trafford. With just 113 games in six years, he has already wasted a crucial phase of his promising career.
The English giants tied him down to a new long-term deal last year, a decision that might allow them to recover a decent chunk of what they paid to Villarreal. Moreover, an impressive pre-season should help them have a case during the transfer discussions.
Napoli, on the other hand, have accepted Chelsea’s £34m offer for Koulibaly. It won’t be easy though to replace the Senegalese, particularly after 8 eventful years in Gli Azzurri colours. Having said that, the Serie A giants have been sublime when it comes to replacing their top performers and Bailly, with all his potential and personality, holds the attributes to succeed the 31-year-old under the tutelage of Luciano Spalletti.
