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Real Madrid 'eye surprise £35m move for Manchester United defender Eric Bailly'

By Barney Corkhill, Editor | 04 April 2019

Real Madrid 'eye surprise £35m move for Bailly'

Real Madrid reportedly identify out-of-favour Manchester United centre-back Eric Bailly as a surprise £35m transfer target this summer.

Manchester United defender Eric Bailly has reportedly emerged as a surprise £35m transfer target for Real Madrid this summer.

Both clubs are expected to undergo major squad revamps following disappointing campaigns, with Madrid having already been linked with moves for United players such as Paul Pogba and Marcus Rashford.

The Daily Mail reports that Bailly has now also come onto their radar, having been alerted to the fact that the centre-back could be open to a move away from Old Trafford when the transfer window reopens.

Bailly has struggled for game time this season due to a mixture of form and fitness, making just seven Premier League starts for the club and only one so far in 2019.

The Ivory Coast international is also aware that United are in the market for defensive reinforcements this summer, which will only increase the competition for places at the club.

Madrid manager Zinedine Zidane is understood to have kept tabs on Bailly since he joined United from Villarreal in 2016 and is now hopeful of bringing him back to Spain.

The 24-year-old has just over a year remaining on his current contract and there have been no talks over an extension so far, which is also understood to be a factor in Bailly's consideration of leaving.