Erik ten Hag has already identified the next three players he wants to ship out of Manchester United as Eric Bailly edges closer to an Old Trafford exit.
The Ivorian defender, who arrived at the club during Jose Mourinho's reign back in 2016, has become a peripheral figure over the past 12 months and had not featured in United's matchday squad at all this term.
Bailly's exit was on the cards after United splashed out more than £56million to bring Lisandro Martinez to the club, and Bailly is now poised to join Marseille on a season-long loan deal in a bid to play regular first-team football again.
As part of the deal, the French giants will be obliged to purchase Bailly on a permanent basis for around €7m (£5.9m) if they qualify for the Champions League and the 28-year-old plays a certain amount of games over the next 12 months.
And Bailly is not set to be the only defender to depart United in the coming weeks, with The Telegraph claiming that Ten Hag is now turning his attention to offloading Aaron Wan-Bissaka, Phil Jones and Axel Tuanzabe.
The trio are all out of favour under the Dutchman, who is keen to make room in his squad for more incomings before the September 1 deadline.
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Wan-Bissaka was signed by Ole Gunnar Solskjaer for an eye-watering £50m fee back in 2019, but the former Crystal Palace right-back has struggled to make an impact at Old Trafford.
The 24-year-old was rated as one of the most promising defenders in the country after a breakthrough campaign at Selhurst Park, but has since lost his first-team spot to Diogo Dalot and has been linked with a return to the Eagles in a cut-price £10m deal.
Jones has been plagued by injuries during his time at Manchester United but did impress when he was unexpectedly thrust back into first-team action for a brief spell last season. However, the veteran is also surplus to requirements and available to move on.
After failing to mark a during recent loan spells at Aston Villa and Napoli, Tuanzabe is now poised to follow Jones and Wan-Bissaka in leaving Old Trafford. The United academy graduate has made just 37 appearances for the club since his senior bow back in 2017.
As well as pursuing attacking reinforcements, Ten Hag remains determined to acquire the services of another right-back before the transfer deadline, with Borussia Dortmund's Thomas Meunier of interest.
The United chief is also in the market for a goalkeeper to push David de Gea, while another midfielder could also arrive despite the recent £60m capture of Casemiro.
