Eric Bailly completes Manchester United medical ahead of £30million switch to Old Trafford
Red Devils boss Jose Mourinho on the verge of clinching first signing as Villarreal's Ivory Coast defender arrives ahead of swapping Champions League for Europa League football
ERIC BAILLY has completed a medical at Manchester United this afternoon ahead of a £30milion move from Villarreal.
The 22-year-old Ivory Coast defender is in Manchester ahead of the deal as new Red Devils boss Jose Mourinho clinches his first signing.
According to the Mail, the deal is expected to be finalised on Friday.
Bailly has been a fast and powerfully-built presence in a backline of that finished fourth in La Liga last season while reaching the Europa League semi-finals before being knocked out by Liverpool.
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That means he is set to ditch the chance to play Champions League football for another stint in the Europa League after the Red Devils failed to clinch a top-four spot under sacked boss Louis van Gaal.
Mourinho is renowned for his preference of speed and power throughout the spine of his teams.
And Bailly should fit the bill as Mourinho looks to pair him with England man Chris Smalling.
Daley Blind played at centre-back for much of last season.
But while he rarely put a pass out of place, the Dutch international is better suited to a midfield and berth and lacks the pace to play centre-back at the highest level.
Phil Jones is another that could play there, but injuries have blighted the former Blackburn defender’s Old Trafford career and Mourinho may utilise his physicality at right-back.
Mourinho wants Willian from former club Chelsea to add energy and mobility to United's flat-footed midfield.
But the Blues want £60m for the Brazilian and Mourinho has previously baulked at paying sky-high transfer fees.
However, the Portuguese boss' key target is former Paris Saint-Germain ace Zlatan Ibrahimovic.
The Swedish striker and his agent have teased fans with a string of contradictory statements, with Ibrahimovic previously indicating that he would reveal his choice of club today.