MANCHESTER UNITED loanee Eric Bailly is expected to return to Old Trafford at the end of the season, reports suggest.
The 28-year-old joined Marseille on a season-long loan in August after falling out of favour with Erik ten Hag.
His current contract includes an £8.4million obligation to buy clause, which will be triggered if he makes 19 Ligue 1 appearances and Marseille qualify for the Champions League.
However, according to French outlet La Provence, Bailly is not expected to meet that target.
The defender has made just 11 league appearances for the Olympians so far this season.
And he is not expected to play a part in the majority of the club’s nine remaining Ligue 1 games.
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Instead, Leonardo Balerdi is the preferred presence in the heart of Igor Tudor’s defence.
Bailly is now expected to return to Man Utd at the end of the season.
However, Ten Hag currently has no plans for him ahead of the 2023-24 campaign.
The Ivory Coast international is one of several players set to leave Old Trafford this summer.
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The likes of Harry Maguire, Brandon Williams, Alex Telles and Anthony Martial are also expected to move on.
Dean Henderson and Scott McTominay could also depart, while Anthony Elanga and Facundo Pellistri are pencilled in for a loan.
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
