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Manchester United’s next assignment will see them take on struggling La Liga outfit Sevilla in the first-leg of their Europa League quarterfinal at Old Trafford on Thursday.
Despite their poor season, United will do well to not underestimate the Los Nervionenses who hold the record for the most Europa League triumphs in history.
Their most recent meeting came back in 2019-20 season when Ole Gunnar Solskjaer‘s team fell to the Spanish giants in the semifinals.
Sevilla have struggled this season
This time around, they will have with them Alex Telles, who is on loan from the Red Devils and he could soon become a permanent member of the team from Seville.
Not only the Brazilian full-back but another United loan star is also of interest to Sevilla. According to Fichajes, sporting director Monchi is a big admirer of Eric Bailly.
The main reason for Sevilla’s fall from grace this season has been the losses of defensive stalwarts Diego Carlos and Jules Koundé last summer.
While Carlos went to the Premier League to Aston Villa, Barcelona pounced for Kounde and Sevilla as a result fell from fourth position in the table, where they finished last season, to 13th currently.
They are only five points clear of the relegation zone and have conceded the joint-fourth most goals in the division. And that is why they have earmarked Bailly as one of the options to come in and clear the mess.
The Ivorian, when fully fit, can be a top-class centre-back due to his speed and aggressiveness. But injuries have paid a major role in him failing to find his feet at Olympique Marseille.
The French outfit hold the option of making the loan deal permanent but there is a good chance they will not trigger the clause and that might help Sevilla’s case.
United will be desperate to part ways with the 29-year-old and they could be amenable to reducing the asking price even further, something Sevilla intend to ask.
Bailly to Sevilla
“Seeking to carry out a series of signings next summer with the idea of practically improving all the lines of the field, something that leads sports director Monchi to think about new additions for 2023/2024, choosing the Ivorian player from Manchester United, Eric Bailly, for the defensive zone.
“The operation is very simple for the interests of the Sevillian team, since the English team would not put up too many financial problems to let the 28-year-old footballer leave.
“United with the idea of reducing the purchase price of an Eric Bailly as much as possible who, despite not being the only option of the sports management, is the one he likes the most, being able to become Sevilla’s star signing for 2023/2024.” the report mentioned.
The former Villareal star is currently valued at €8million and United could be open to selling him for around half the price, in a bid to raise capital for transfers and reduce the wage bill.
Bailly became a United player back in 2016 under Jose Mourinho, who sanctioned a €38million deal.
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