Eric Bailly fears Man Utd axe when Ole Gunnar Solskjaer completes £80m Harry Maguire transfer – The Sun

ERIC BAILLY has been left fearing for his future following Manchester United's pursuit of Harry Maguire, it has been claimed.

United boss Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has made the Leicester star his top transfer target this summer as he looks to shore up the leaky defence at Old Trafford.

The club are preparing to go back to the Foxes with an improved offer of around £80million in the coming days as they try to get a deal over the line.

But the Metro report that United star Bailly has been left worried he may not figure in the club's plans if they manage to finally capture Maguire, 26.

They say the Ivory Coast international fears he could be surplus to requirements if Maguire arrives – which would swell the number of centre-backs in the squad to seven.

Solskjaer is trying to build a group deep enough to be able to challenge in the Premier League and also cope with the added demands of Europa League football.

But even so, should Maguire finally arrive it would leave United with too many players in the same position and looking to move at least one out.

The belief is that the England star would partner Victor Lindelof as the first choice pairing next season, with Chris Smalling the other viewed as a serious option.

And with Axel Tuanzebe earmarked for a role during the current campaign, it then leaves Bailly in the mix with Phil Jones and Marcos Rojo making up the numbers.

Jones is already under threat, having been offered as a makeweight in a bid to sign Issa Diop from West Ham earlier this summer.

But Bailly is said to be just as concerned, worried that he will be made available after two years with the club.

His fears are in contrast to the view of team-mate Lindelof, who this week said he welcomed the potential challenge of fighting for a place with Maguire.

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