Incoming Manchester United boss Erik ten Hag has reportedly decided to let go of both Eric Bailly and Axel Tuanzebe this summer as he kicks off his Old Trafford overhaul.
The former Ajax boss has been making conclusions on his current squad since his arrival from the Eredivisie giants this summer and already appears to have made decisions over a number of fringe players. According to The Manchester Evening News, the Dutchman would be willing to sell both Bailly and Tuanzebe, with the pair already looking unlikely to figure in his plans next season.
Bailly, a 2016 signing from Villarreal, has fallen down the pecking order at Old Trafford over recent seasons. He has struggled with injury issues and for consistent form having only made six starts for both Ole Gunnar Solskjaer and Ralf Rangnick combined.
Now at the age of 28 - and with just two years remaining on his Red Devils’ contract - the club are quickly running out of time to recoup any considerable funds for his services should they choose to sell.
Meanwhile, academy graduate Tuanzebe has endured even more of a torrid time of things over the past few seasons. He has not appeared for the Red Devils since the Europa League defeat to Villarreal at the back-end of the 2020/21 campaign.
He was sent out on loan to Aston Villa at the beginning of this season but after struggling for playing time in the Midlands, was recalled and then subsequently joined Serie A outfit Napoli. The 24-year-old was starved even further for game time in Italy having only made two appearances for the club.
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Tuanzebe still has two years remaining on his current contract at Old Trafford but looks unlikely to figure in ten Hag’s plans at Old Trafford.
Whilst the pair could be set to depart, the recent decisions could provide a huge clue over the Red Devils’ priority signing next season. With two centrebacks leaving, that could well suggest that another central defender is high on Man Utd’s shopping list ahead of the new campaign.
A number have of course already been linked with a switch to the club this summer - Villarreal’s Pau Torres having emerged as a viable target. However, it remains to be seen whether they would be able to secure his services.
The Spanish international has two years remaining on his current contract at the Estadio de la Ceramica with reports suggesting that a move could potentially be set to cost in the region of £55m.
In the meantime, the Red Devils have already confirmed a trio of major departures ahead of the summer transfer window with Paul Pogba, Juan Mata and Jesse Lingard all departing Old Trafford.
