Eric Bailly to miss 6-8 weeks with knee injury

According to reports, Manchester United defender Eric Bailly is set for a spell on the sidelines for up to eight weeks after injuring his knee against Tottenham Hotspur on Thursday. The Ivorian center back only came on at half-time of the International Champions Cup clash before going down holding his knee ten minutes later. The reports that he has damaged his meniscus are better than what was originally feared, which was a torn ligament.

(Image: Eamonn and James Clarke)

Bailly will require minor surgery on his knee, and then will need time to regain match fitness, meaning that he is unlikely to play a meaningful role until possibly October. It is another setback for the center half whose United career has stalled due to injury and inconsistent form.

Bailly’s injury also ramps up the pressure on United to complete a long-rumored deal for Leicester City defender Harry Maguire. The Reds have been linked with Maguire for over a year, and this summer have been reported to be making incremental progress of his transfer over the course of the last few weeks. Whether United are willing to meet Leicester’s world record fee valuation remains to be seen, but defensive reinforcements are clearly needed now.