Newcastle are interested in signing Manchester United defender Eric Bailly, according to reports. The Ivorian is the fourth-choice centre-back at Old Trafford and could end up leaving eventually.
Harry Maguire, Raphael Varane, and Victor Lindelof are all ahead of Bailly in Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s pecking order, meaning that a departure could be on the table for the former Villarreal defender.
Axel Tuanzebe’s departure on loan could, however, complicate matters for Bailly. An exit in January would leave Solskjaer thin at the back in terms of squad depth, a situation he would ideally like to avoid.
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According to The Northern Echo, Newcastle are set to target both Bailly and Jesse Lingard in the upcoming January transfer window after Mike Ashley’s sale of the club was completed earlier this week.
A move for Bailly is being considered by Newcastle, whilst there are some reservations about Lingard after the player rejected the Tyneside club in favour of a move to West Ham in the last January window.
Manchester United are unlikely to allow Bailly to leave in January but they could be more lenient in Lingard’s case, having used him sporadically this season. There is also plenty of cover in Lingard’s position, whilst there isn’t in Bailly’s case.
