Manchester United's Eric Bailly hopes to play with Victor Lindelöf

He may be off on international duty, but Eric Bailly is still keeping a close eye on the transfer window. And after Cote d'Ivoire defeated Sweden in a warm-up friendly, he went on the record to praise fellow defender and rumoured United target Victor Lindelöf.

Talking to fotballskanalen (with translation work coming, as always, from Mr G. Translate) Bailly said:

He is a very good player. He has great qualities and will certainly do well if he comes to us. ... We have many good central defenders — Chris Smalling, Marcos Rojo and Phil Jones — but it's clear that I hope I get to play with Lindelöf. ... The day we get to play, if we get there, we must take advantage of that opportunity. I think we would fit well together.

According to the Guardian, Bailly may have to wait until next season. But in general, we're in favour of this new policy of having players weigh in on transfer rumours. Things could have been so different ...

"Fancy playing with Michael Owen, Dimitar?"

"Berbatov would not lower himself to such indignities."