Tag Archives: Eric Bailly

Eric Bailly Signs 4-year Contract Extension

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Eric Bailly has signed a four-year contract extension with Manchester United, the club announced today.

The announcement comes at somewhat of a surprise. It was reported earlier this month that Eric Bailly was unhappy at the club and would not extend his contract forcing Man Utd to sell him in the summer.

The 27-year-old signed from Villarreal in 2016 for €30 million and has had his ups and downs for the club since joining. Eric Bailly has been injured a lot in his Man Utd career so far. This season he has made just 15 appearances in all competitions.

Harry Maguire and Victor Lindelof are the preferred partnership in defense this season at Old Trafford. Ole Gunnar Solskjaer and Man Utd could still add a big named defender in the summer.

Eric Bailly spoke with the club after his decision to extend his contract.

“I am very happy, this decision, you don’t have to think about signing, I love this club. I love playing for Manchester, my family is happy. I have had a moment in this past with injury, now I am fit and good. A new contract is like a new challenge, I am ready for this.”

With the news of this signing, Man Utd could focus more on one big signing at center back instead of having to bring in multiple center backs and orientating them with the club.

This leaves Phil Jones and Axel Tuanzebe on the possible chopping block, if United were to bring in another central defender one of these players will likely have to depart.

Eric Bailly has the talent to play at a high level for Man Utd, hopefully he is able to stay fit for the next couple of years at Old Trafford.

Eric Bailly To Reject New Contract Offer

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According to ESPN, Eric Bailly is ready to reject a new contract offer from Manchester United. The 27-year-old’s contract expires at the end of next season.

Manchester United are likely to be in the market for a center back in the summer and with Eric Bailly’s contract set to expire in a season, selling the defender makes sense.

With the sale of Eric Bailly and other players on loan, Manchester United could easily finance a transfer a top center back. Jules Kounde, Kalidou Koulibaly, Ibrahima Konate and Pau Torres all could be options but come at a decent price.

That blow does become softened if Eric Bailly is part of the deal or is sold to finance a future deal.

Eric Bailly has been absent from the club because of his positive test for COVID-19 while on international duty but could be in the squad for the Europa League match against Granada on Thursday.

The Ivory Coast international has only made just 100 appearances in five seasons. The defender has been often injured at his time at Old Trafford and with this news Bailly could be gone in the summer.

Bailly is such a talented and athletic defender, he could have been a lot better if not for the injuries. If he does move on, best luck!

Victor Lindelof and Eric Bailly Rotating in the Starting XI is Paying Off

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Eric Bailly and Victor Lindelof look to be competing for a spot with each other next year and the competition between them is paying off for Manchester United defensively.

Of course they have made mistakes here and there, maybe they can be attributed to a couple of dropped points lately. Lindelof could have been stronger in the West Brom game, but the offense could have been better.

Man United’s defense has been better lately, maybe at the expense of the offense, but there are plenty of injuries to key creative players like Paul Pogba, Edison Cavani and Donny Van De Beek, all attack minded players. 

In the first three league games United gave up 11 goals. Over 30% of their total goals allowed in the first three games is understandable and excusable. It does inflate their goals allowed tally in the league, as well as the two games where they scored 15 goals.

Some anomalies have created dubious narratives about United, they are a good defensive team especially lately.

Victor Lindelof and Eric Bailly are slowly winning me over, both of them have looked solid in the past few weeks. 

Bailly and Lindelof have been rotating the starting center back role opposite of Harry Maguire for the last nine games in all competitions. That trend could continue against AC Milan if Bailly starts, he was impressive on the day.

Since giving up three goals against Everton, United have only given up two goals and have kept four straight clean sheets in six league games. In cup games and Europe they have also been solid, blanking a Real Sociedad team that is strong offensively.

It is a possibility that Ole Gunnar Solskjaer is assessing both players before the summer. Both players have contracts that go beyond this summer, but Bailly’s runs out in 2022 and if United do not sell him before this January, he can leave on a free. 

He will be assessing how much it will cost if they do bring in another defender, an extremely costly center back might not be needed. Another decent signing will likely come in and further push the two.

Eric Bailly and Victor Lindelof’s career at United is all speculative, both are good players, it is great to see them playing well. United are going to need them if they want to finish off the season strong.