AC Milan and Roma are set to go head-to-head in the battle to sign Manchester United defender Eric Bailly this summer, according to reports. Bailly, 28, has slipped down the pecking order at Old Trafford after putting pen to paper on a contract extension last summer.
Bailly impressed during pre-season wins against Liverpool and Melbourne Victory recently. However, with Tyrell Malacia and Lisandro Martinez welcomed on board, Erik ten Hag could yet strike up further deals in that department as he continues to set about his much-needed rebuild.
Harry Maguire and Raphael Varane were the first-choice partnership at centre-back last season. It means that Bailly and others could be deemed surplus to requirements.
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Interest from Roma - where Jose Mourinho is manager - had already come to the surface as The Athletic suggest that Milan can be added to the list of potential suitors. Bailly was the first signing made by Mourinho during his spell as United manager and could tempt the Ivorian into a new challenge.
Elsewhere, reports from Italy claim Chelsea are ready to submit an offer for United 'target' Denzel Dumfries.
Dumfries, 26, could be allowed to leave Inter Milan this summer only 12 months after joining the club. United have been heavily linked with him due to his Eredivisie background. Inter may be forced to cash in on prized assets such as Dumfries owing to FFP rules - prompting supposed interest from United.
Italian publication Gazzetta dello Sport report Chelsea are set to launch the first approach for his services, though, but the west Londoners are not thought to be prepared to pay his £34million asking price. That could open the door for United to pursue the Dutchman as competition for Portugal international Diogo Dalot at right-back.
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