Manchester United are desperate for sales from their first-team squad in the coming months with defender Eric Bailly near the top of the list.
Bailly was shipped out by United during the summer transfer window last year as part of a mass exodus orchestrated by boss Erik ten Hag. However, the Ivorian’s exit was only a season-long loan deal to Marseille with the French club not taking up their option to buy him permanently.
The central defender accused the club last year of having an English bias. Following his move to Marseille, Bailly suggested that Ten Hag's predecessors were reluctant to select foreign players over their English teammates.
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The Red Devils boss responded to Bailly's recent accusations, which were labelled "absolute nonsense" by Liverpool legend Jamie Carragher. "I cannot say [anything] about that. I was not in charge last season," Ten Hag declared before being asked if a player's nationality would ever come into his thinking when selecting a team. "Not for me."
Aged 29, Bailly made 23 appearances for Marseille last season but he is well down the pecking order of central defender at Old Trafford. Raphael Varane, Lisandro Martinez, Victor Lindelof, Luke Shaw and Harry Maguire are among the options ahead of the former Villarreal defender.
According to Mundo Deportivo, Real Betis are interested in signing him and have earmarked him as a potential defensive recruit for the summer. Should a move go through, that would see Bailly return to Spain after previously representing Espanyol and Villarreal.
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However, it should be acknowledged that Betis do not currently have money for recruitment – they have deals in place to sign Marc Roca on a loan deal from Leeds and free agent Hector Bellerin. They are set to cash-in on defender Luiz Felipe, who looks set to be on his way to West Ham in a £17million deal.
Bailly made 113 appearances over the course of six injury-hit campaigns with United and was Jose Mourinho's first signing as boss. The Ivorian centre-back left Villarreal for a fee in the region of £30million.
After a positive first season in which he helped the Red Devils win the Community Shield, EFL Cup and Europa League. injuries derailed Bailly's Old Trafford career. The Ivory Coast international found consistent minutes and form hard to come by thanks to a slew of issues which began in late 2017, including a serious ankle injury which kept him out for four months.
Having failed to convince Ole Gunnar Solskjaer and Ralf Rangnick after Mourinho was sacked midway through his third season, there was a decision on both sides to move on last summer but he is now back at the club.
In a wider reflection on his time in England, Bailly told the Times in September last year: "I was Mourinho's first signing and I also had good moments where titles were won. "I played important games and in some, I was chosen as the best player.
"I think when I was given the opportunity I rose to the occasion. I just lacked consistency, because I think I deserved more minutes."
