£30 million Eric Bailly was offered to Aston Villa during the summer transfer window but the Premier League outfit rejected a move for Manchester United’s Marseille loanee, as reported by The Athletic.
They say absence makes the heart grow stronger.
And that certainly seemed to be the case for Eric Bailly. With Manchester United haemorrhaging goals at a staggering rate last season – Harry Maguire and Victor Lindelof looking about as secure as a velvet rope separating the world’s biggest cubic zirconia from a clan of master thieves – Bailly’s latest another injury-ruined season became a point of real frustration for many an Old Trafford matchgoer.
There has never been any doubt about Bailly’s talent. When fit, he is arguably one of the club’s finest central defenders. The problem is, a prolonged run of games has been almost impossible to come by during his six year career at the Premier League giants.
“He’s had such a difficult time with injuries,” former United boss Ole Gunnar Solskjaer said after Bailly offered a tantalising glimpse into his vast potential during a 2-1 win over Villa in January 2021.
“He’s such a likeable man. In that dressing room, everyone wants to see him succeed. We know how important he can be for us and tonight he was immense.”
Aston Villa turned down Manchester United defender Eric Bailly
Perhaps that worrisome injury record is why Aston Villa decided not to bite when they were handed the chance to sign the one-time Villarreal stopper; Jose Mourinho’s first Man United signing back in 2016.
The Athletic say that Bailly was ‘offered’ to Villa. He would eventually join Marseille instead; the latest down-on-his-luck footballer to put pen to paper with the Ligue 1 outfit. Mateo Guendouzi, Nuno Tavares and Alexis Sanchez are all Marseille players these days.
The report adds that Aston Villa did consider James Tarkowski before Everton snapped up the free-agent. Craig Dawson was another target, before Jan Bednarek joined from Southampton on deadline day.
The Poland international will hope to step into a void created by Diego Carlos’ absence at Villa Park. Dawson, meanwhile, stays at West Ham after talks with Wolves broke down. He would have cost around £7 million. More than Wolves were willing to offer for a 32-year-old.
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