Manchester United defender Eric Bailly appears destined to leave Old Trafford this month after reportedly agreeing to join AC Milan on loan.
Bailly, 27, has fallen down the pecking order at United and has made just four appearances in the Premier League this season.
According to Italian journalist Gianluca Di Marzio, Bailly has agreed to join Milan and discussions are now taking place with United over a January loan move, with a potential option the buy at the end of the season.
Di Marzio claims there have been ‘positive signs’ from the Premier League club over the proposed move.
Milan are keen to sign a centre-back after losing Simon Kjaer to injury.
Denmark international Kjaer has been ruled out for six months, having undergone surgery on the anterior cruciate ligament in his left knee.
Milan have also been linked with Lille defender Sven Botman but the French club are reportedly reluctant to sell him midway through the season.
Bailly is currently away on international duty with the Ivory Coast at the Africa Cup of Nations.
He is expected to feature when they take on Equatorial Guinea in their opening match of the tournament on Wednesday night.
Bailly joined United in a £30m move from Villarreal in 2016 and has gone on to make 113 appearances for the club, scoring once.
He has found his first-team opportunities increasingly limited in recent seasons, with Harry Maguire and Victor Lindelof largely preferred in central defence.
Bailly’s potential loan move could affect the future of Phil Jones, who made his first appearance for United in nearly two years in the 1-0 defeat to Wolves earlier this month.
Jones had been linked with a move away from Old Trafford in January but may be retained by interim manager Ralf Ragnick if Bailly leaves, with Maguire, Lindelof and Raphael Varane the only other senior centre backs at the club.
Topics: Manchester United, Football, Premier League, Eric Bailly, AC Milan, Serie A, Transfers
Rory O'Callaghan