Eric Bailly reportedly flies in for Man United medical as £30m deal edges closer

VILLARREAL defender Eric Bailly has arrived in England for a medical with Manchester United.

By Jonathan Green

MEDICAL UNDERWAY: Eric Bailly is in Manchester to put the final touches on his move to United

The Ivory Coast international is in Manchester to put the final touches to his £30m move and the deal should be finalised by Friday, the Daily Mail report.

The 22-year-old started his medical this afternoon and looks set to become Jose Mourinho’s first signing as United manager.

The Red Devils interest in Bailly was revealed on Saturday with Spanish newspaper AS claiming they were set to pay just under £31.3m.

But the Mail report that United had revised their offer to be £25m up front with a further £5m coming in bonuses.

Villarreal are set to make a huge profit on Bailly having signed him for just £4.5m in January 2015.

He made 35 appearances for the Yellow Submarine this season, scoring one goal.

Bailly is regarded as one of the most promising defenders in Spain and the Mail claim Bayern Munich, Barcelona, Paris Saint-Germain, Arsenal and Manchester City had also been tracking his progress.

United made their move with Mourinho keen to strengthen the spine of his new squad.

A new defender had been a priority for the Portuguese coach and the likes of John Stones, Rapahel Varane and Kostas Manolas had been linked with a move to Old Trafford before attention was turned to Bailly.