Exclusive: Former Man Utd Defender Eric Bailly Tipped for Shock Premier League Return with Everton

Former Manchester United defender Eric Bailly is eyeing a shock return to the Premier League with Everton, SportsBoom can exclusively reveal.

Experienced Ivory Coast international centre-back Bailly was released by Spanish side Villareal this week and is now officially a free agent.

And our sources have learnt the ex-Red Devil would welcome a return to the English top-flight after not being offered a new deal at the Estadi de la Ceramica.

The Toffees are in desperate need of defensive cover with veteran Michael Keane having been released on a free transfer, while long-serving right-back Seamus Coleman has ambitions to further his management career despite penning a one-year contract extension with the club.

SportsBoom can reveal that Leeds United have also been monitoring Bailly’s next move after 18 months in Spain.

Bailly, 31, made a high-profile £30million transfer to Old Trafford in June 2016 and played six successive seasons in the Premier League.

PECKING ORDER

But after 25 Premier League games in his first season at the club, Bailly quickly slipped down the pecking order and was a bit-part player over the next five seasons.

He played just 45 games across those five seasons as was gradually phased out of the club’s plans.

Capped 50 times for his country across a decade of international football, Bailly has bags of experience at the top level and having played in La Liga and the Premier League.

Former United boss Jose Mourinho signed the defender at Old Trafford and said at the time he had “great natural talent”.

He added: “He is an honest man, always ready to give everything for the team. Football clubs need people like him.”

Bailly is believed to have been on £50,000 a week at Villareal, but with no transfer fee involved he could present a financially sound deal for the Everton boss David Moyes, who was boosted this week by star England international Jarrad Branthwaite signing a new five-year contract with the club.