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Manchester United have triggered an option in Eric Bailly’s contract to extend his stay at the club until the summer of 2022.
Signed from la Liga side Villareal in a £30 million deal in the summer of 2016, Bailly’s existing deal was due to end at the end of this season.
However, despite an injury-plagued few years, which has seen the Ivory Coast international play just 74 times since arriving at Old Trafford, United have shown their faith in the 25 year old.
He has not played for the first-team at all so far this season, after injuring his knee during a pre-season friendly game, but is close to full fitness again, and could make his long awaited return in the fourth round FA Cup tie against the winners of either Watford or Tranmere Rovers later this month.
United manager wants Bailly to offer competition to first-choice centre back pairing of Harry Maguire and Victor Lindelof.
Andy is an exiled English football fan living in Cyprus. He loves all sports but football is his abiding passion, and he still has dreams every now and then about scoring the winning goal in a Wembley Cup Final, even though his playing days are long gone. He follows most major leagues, across Europe at least, and has a favoured team in each. When he’s not watching, listening, reading or downloading podcasts about football, he spend his time worrying about his beloved Arsenal.