MANCHESTER UNITED are set to trigger Eric Bailly’s contract extension clause to stop him leaving on a free.
The Ivory Coast defender is battling back from a horrific knee problem which he suffered against Spurs in pre-season.
Man Utd will trigger an extension clause in Eric Bailly’s contract to stop him leaving on a free
The £80,000-a-week star has played just 50 times for United in three years after an injury-plagued spell at Old Trafford.
But it is understood the Red Devils will take their option up on Bailly – who has been linked with a move to Arsenal – for a further year in the coming weeks.
The 25-year-old is out-of-contract next summer, and can start talking to clubs around Europe at the start of the January transfer window.
A United source said: “The club have invested a lot of money and time into Eric over the past few years.
“He has is undoubtedly one of the best defenders here when he can stay fit and healthy.
“The fact remains, we have been very prudent in recent years when it comes to covering ourselves.
“We don’t want players running down their deals. Eric might see his future differently at the end of the day.
“For the next year, at least, we will box him off and see how his playing time fares over the rest of this season.”
It is believed his deal can be extended by a second year as well, which was written into the original agreement.
Bailly, who joined from Villarreal in 2016 for £27m, is hopeful he will be back playing again early in the new year.
It is understood he will get the green light after the international break to start working with a ball again after gym rehabilitation.
United boss Ole Gunnar Solskjaer is still keen to see if the player can succeed at Old Trafford.
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Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
