ERIC BAILLY is reportedly close to joining Marseille after the French side agreed a loan deal with Manchester United.
The Ivorian defender finds himself down the pecking order at Old Trafford this season.
And new United boss Erik ten Hag has sanctioned an exit so Bailly can get the minutes he craves.
La Provence claims Marseille are now deep in talks with the centre-back over personal terms.
The loan deal includes a clause to buy Bailly permanently for £8.5million next summer.
And it becomes obligatory if Marseille qualify for the Champions League.
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They must therefore first strike terms with Bailly on a personal contract before the loan deal can go through.
But the ace is reportedly keen on making the move and talks are expected to go smoothly this weekend.
Bailly, 28, has been at United since 2016 after a £30million move from Villarreal, but injuries have limited him to just 113 appearances.
He is not the only United centre-back to be linked with an exit this month, as captain Harry Maguire is being lined up by Chelsea.
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Bailly is now set to become Marseille’s latest exciting capture after last season’s impressive second-place finish.
Matteo Guendouzi has been signed permanently from Arsenal, while Nuno Tavares has joined on loan.
Porto’s Chancel Mbemba and Inter Milan’s Alexis Sanchez arrived on free transfers.
Meanwhile, sizeable fees were handed over for Roma’s Jordan Veretout, Lens’ Jonathan Clauss and Granada’s Luis Suarez.
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
