Tottenham and Arsenal are set to battle for Manchester United outcast Eric Bailly, claims The Daily Star.
Bailly was the first signing Jose Mourinho made as United manager but the Ivorian centre-back has dropped completely out of favour this year.
The 24-year-old has shown the best form of any of United’s current centre-back options but has struggled to stay fit since joining from Villarreal for £30m in 2016.
United is planning more defensive reinforcements in January and Bailly has grown disillusioned by the way Mourinho has treated him.
Midfielder Scott McTominay has even moved ahead of Bailly in the pecking order for places at centre-back in recent weeks, compounding his misery.
Tottenham and Arsenal were both linked with a move for Bailly in the summer and the north London outfit are set to compete for his signature.
Chris Smalling and Phil Jones will be free agents at the end of the season and United may block Bailly’s departure to prevent three defenders leaving before the start of the next campaign.
United have a far better win ratio when Bailly has started in the Premier League (63.2%) compared to when he has not featured from the off (50%).
