By Pete O'Rourke, Transfer Correspondent

1st Sep, 2023 | 12:09pm

Sources: Fulham and Nottingham Forest make moves to sign Man United star Eric Bailly

Fulham and Nottingham Forest have now turned their attention to beat-the-deadline moves for out-of-favour Man United defender Eric Bailly, sources have told Football Insider.

United are looking to offload Bailly to balance the books as he does not figure in Erik ten Hag’s plans going forward at Old Trafford.

Fulham and Forest have registered their interest in deals for the 29-year-old.

Bailly is under contract until the end of this season after signing a new deal in April 2021.

He has made 113 appearances in his seven years at Old Trafford after he joined from Villarreal in 2016.

The Ivorian has struggled with various injuries in that time, including a knee injury that sidelined him for 32 matches in 2018-19.

Bailly spent last season on loan at Marseille, where he made 17 appearances in Ligue 1 and five appearances in the Champions League.

Prior to that spell, hee played only seven times in total during the 2021-22 season, including just three Premier League starts.

That was despite the fact that United had their worst-ever top-flight season in terms of goals conceded, letting in 57 in total.

A move to either Forest or Fulham will see the defender make his first appearance in the Premier League since 2022, after spending the previous campaign in France.

Man United are ready to sell Bailly despite injuries to Raphael Varane and Luke Shaw in recent weeks.

In other news, Fulham ready to hijack Nottingham Forest deal.