Manchester United defender Eric Bailly out for rest of season and African Cup of Nations with knee injury

The Ivorian has a medial ligament issue and won't play again until next season

Monday 29 April 2019 15:26

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Ole Gunnar Solskjaer defends David De Gea after yet another mistake for Manchester United

Eric Bailly will miss what remains of Manchester United's turbulent season as well as Ivory Coast's African Cup of Nations campaign after the Old Trafford club's doctors found medial ligament damage.

United have confirmed that the centre-back has been ruled out of their final two games in the Premier League, against Huddersfield and Cardiff.

The Ivorian international has started just 13 games all season for United and has only completed 90 minutes twice since January, as a series of issues blighted his spring.

Bailly's 2018/19 is now over, having played fewer than 1000 minutes in a miserable campaign that comes off the back of a 2017/18 season where he only started 13 games.

United are expected to invest heavily in defence this summer, with Kalidou Koulibaly and Milian Skriniar among the centre-backs that have caught their eye.

Manchester United: Keep or sell?

Show all 26

1/26Manchester United: Keep or sell?

It has been a rollercoaster season for Manchester United leaving Ole Gunnar solskjaer with key decisions to make over who should stay and who should leave this summer

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Form is temporary, class is permanent. Riddled with errors of late but remains United’s most important player, even when in the last year of his contract. Keep

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A reserve goalkeeper yet says everything about United’s recruitment that he is one of the better signings of the post-Ferguson era. Keep

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Third-choice, veteran goalkeeper whose home-grown status means he helps to meet squad requirements for European competition. Keep

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Set to spend a third straight season at right-back, having signed a new contract, yet surely cannot be the automatic first-choice. Sell, yet likely to stay

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Some glimpses of promise but the jury’s still out. At 20-years-old, clearly still raw, though needs to perform more consistently when handed opportunities. Keep

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Solskjaer recently confirmed for the first time that club captain Valencia’s contract would not be renewed come the end of the season. Sell

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After several years of treading water at Old Trafford, Shaw has been a quiet success story of an otherwise forgettable season. Keep

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Will be United’s longest-serving player when Valencia departs. Signed a new contract. A new centre-back should make him compete for his place. Keep as cover, for now. Keep as cover, for now

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Another survivor of the Ferguson era. Comes in for an undue amount of criticism, but his longstanding injury problems and inconsistency undermine his case to stay. Sell, yet likely to stay

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A contender for United’s player of the year alongside Shaw, though form of autumn and winter has tailed off. Keep

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A defender with raw gifts but a questionable injury record. Seemingly unfancied by Solskjaer. Close to outgoing Spanish-speakers like Herrera and Mata. Keep as cover, for now

EPA

Has played a pitiful amount of football since renewing terms last year. Offers nothing while out for long periods of time for unspecified reasons. Sell

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Surprise starter against City, United have attempted to offload Darmian for several windows now. Should finally cut ties this summer. Sell

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Increasingly appears as if holding midfielder’s best days are behind him. Currently first-choice in an area of the pitch where United must improve. Sell

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United’s fourth-most expensive signing of all time has suffered a difficult first year. Questions remain over his ability, despite a handful of competent showings. Keep, for now

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Recently emerged as a useful squad player in the mould of Darren Fletcher of late. Questions remain over long-term place but deserving of more opportunities. Keep

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An enigma. Important commercially and has the natural ability to dominate on-the-pitch too but inconsistent. Real Madrid’s interest is no secret. Keep, only sell for record money

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Yet another to have signed new terms, yet has rarely taken opportunities granted to him. Sell, but likely to stay

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Expected to join Paris Saint-Germain on a free transfer. A player who clearly ‘gets’ the club but fresh, younger alternatives would be welcome. Release

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A symbol of the club’s poor decision-making and arguably its least successful transfer of the modern era. Astronomical wages may prohibit a sale. Sell, if possible

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Edging closer to the exit door, with no new contract signed. Perhaps too languid for Solskjaer's ideal style of play. Like Herrera, a young alternative would be preferable. Release

A regular target for criticism but also an academy product who has earned his current status at Old Trafford. Needs to rediscover match-winning ability of last season. Keep

AP

Valid questions remain over whether he will reach his potential, though natural ability is clear. Having just signed until 2024, he is likely to stay around for a while yet. Keep

REUTERS

A better player than his time at United suggests. If Solskjaer can fit him into a coherent system, he should stay. If not, hard to see him as a substitute. Keep, but sell at right price

EPA

One of the few players United fans would be disappointed to lose. Contract talks are ongoing, with current deal effectively set to expire in two years. Keep

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The Old Trafford club will also buy a right-back this summer, with Aaron Wan-Bissaka and Kieran Trippier both boasting advocates among the United hierarchy.

Bailly signed from Villarreal in the summer of 2016 for a fee of around £30 million and impressed during his debut season before struggling for fitness in the next two campaigns. He was helped off in the second half of United's 1-1 draw with Chelsea at Old Trafford on Sunday.

The African Cup of Nations takes place June 21-July 19 in Egypt this summer.

The Ivorians are in a group with South Africa, Morocco and Namibia in the 24-team tournament.

Additional reporting by agencies

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