Manchester United manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer didn’t exactly dismiss the transfer narratives linking his central defender Eric Bailly with a move to Arsenal. Of course, he didn’t exactly imply that a sale was imminent either.
“I’m not surprised if they do, put it that way,” Solskjaer said at his news conference today, ahead of the two sides clashing in the FA Cup fourth round tomorrow night. “It’s just one of those things. It’s just speculation and it’s not a big surprise.”
The London Evening Standard reports that there has been no direct contact between the Ivory Coast international’s camp and the north London side, but this specific transfer narrative refuses to go away.
United have been in the hunt for a central defender upgrade for some time, and it’s clear now that Bailly isn’t a part of the grand plan moving forward. So the writing is certainly on the wall for Bailly to move on and find a place where he could get more consistent first team football.
Arsenal entered the season short on depth and talent in the back line, and as the season has progressed, injuries in the position group have piled up. So this could be a potentially great fit.
Bailly, who hasn’t featured since December 30, came to Old Trafford in the summer of 2016 as Jose Mourinho’s very first transfer buy at United.
With 18 months left on his current contract, now would be the perfect time for United to offload Bailly if they can find the right suitor.
United vs Arsenal FA Cup 4th Round tie FYIs
Kickoff: Friday, January 25, 755 pm local, Emirates Stadium
Injury report for both sides: go to this link
Starting XI Predictions: Arsenal Manchester United
Odds via Betfair: Manchester United win 17/10, Draw 5/2, Arsenal win 8/5
Paul M. Banks runs The Sports Bank.net, which is partnered with News Now. Banks, a former writer for NBC Chicago.com and Chicago Tribune.com, regularly appears as a guest pundit on WGN CLTV and co-hosts the “Let’s Get Weird, Sports” podcast on SB Nation.
He also contributes sociopolitical essays to Chicago Now. Follow him on Twitter and Instagram. The content of his cat’s Instagram account is unquestionably superior to his.