Arsenal and Tottenham are chasing the signature of Manchester United’s Eric Bailly, according to reports.
The Ivory Coast centre-back signed for United from Villarreal for a reported fee of £30million in summer 2016 but has been limited to first-team opportunities under Jose Mourinho this season and is said to be unsettled at Old Trafford.
Both the Gunners and Spurs are believed to have made enquiries over the 24-year-old’s availability and are set to reaffirm their interest in the defender ahead of the upcoming January transfer window.
Mourinho is understood to be unhappy with his current options in defence and wants to recruit a new centre-back as soon as possible with Napoli’s Kalidou Koulibaly in mind.
However, any addition to United’s back-line would require money to be raised from a potential sale. Mourinho is supposedly considering selling Phil Jones and Marcos Rojo, who have struggled for first-team chances as well. But the duo declined offers to leave the club last summer and could be hard to shift this January.
Arsenal’s defence still looks shaky under Unai Emery this season despite signing Sokratis and Stephan Lichtsteiner over the summer and is an area that could do with improving this January.
But it looks highly unlikely that United will sell to the Gunners, especially when Mourinho has faith in Bailly that he can become a top defender despite recent difficulties.
