Man Utd star Eric Bailly completes loan transfer to Marseille with £8.4m obligation to buy if clause is met

MANCHESTER UNITED defender Eric Bailly has completed a loan move to French side Marseille.

And if he helps the French giants qualify for the Champions League the move will become permanent in an £8.4million deal.

It is an exciting signing for Marseille, who finished second last season and have already started this Ligue 1 campaign with two wins and a draw.

Bailly, 29, joins former United team-mate Alexis Sanchez in the south of France after he sealed a free transfer from Inter.

And he will also be team-mates with Matteo Guendouzi whose been signed from Arsenal along with Gunners loanee Nuno Tavares.

Ivory Coast centre-back Bailly joined the Red Devils back in 2016 from Villarreal for £34.2 million.

He was signed by now-Roma boss Jose Mourinho, who was keen on a reunion in Italy until Marseille pounced.

Bailly made 25 appearances in his maiden campaign, but a series of injuries have stopped him ever fully establishing himself at Old Trafford.

Last season, he only managed three starts and came on as a sub on another occasion.

With Raphael Varane and new signing Lisandro Martinez forming a partnership, and with Harry Maguire and Victor Lindelof in reserve, United were more than happy to let Bailly go.

And any outgoing will pave the way for the signings of Eredivisie pair Antony and Cody Gakpo.

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While United are still hopeful of convincing Frenkie De Jong to join, after he rejected their initial offer in June.

This is despite the £70million arrival of Real Madrid midfielder Casemiro.

Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk