NO BYE BYE FOR BAILLY!

UNITED have told Eric Bailly he is not for sale as they intensify their efforts to sign a new centre-back.

Bailly, 24, only started twice in the final two months of last season as Jose Mourinho became frustrated with the defender’s brittleness and was dropped from the squads against Tottenham and Arsenal in April. He was only on the bench for the FA Cup final defeat to Chelsea.

United are trying to sign a centre-half amid interest in Leicester’s Harry Maguire and Tottenham’s Toby Alderweireld, but have informed Bailly his future is secure.

Sources told the M.E.N. Bailly had no intention of seeking a move but if his ‘punishment’ continued he would have to consider his future. Mourinho has started Bailly in United’s three pre-season games and has pencilled him in to start in their Premier League opener against Leicester on August 10. Bailly became Mourinho’s first signing in a £30m move from Villarreal in 2016.

Marcos Rojo is the likeliest centre-half to leave United as they prepare to make room for Maguire or Alderweireld. Rojo, 28, is contracted to the club until 2021 but the Argentinian has fallen behind Bailly, Victor Lindelof, Chris Smalling and Phil Jones in the defensive pecking order.

Mourinho clarified that Victor Lindelof would return to United’s Carrington training complex on Monday and is a possible rightback option in the absence of Antonio Valencia.

UNITED SPECIAL/ P50-52