According to The Independent, Manchester United boss Jose Mourinho would be open to selling Eric Bailly in this summer's transfer window.

What's the story?

Bailly arrived at United from Villarreal in the summer of 2016, and was outstanding during his first season with the 20-time English champions.

The centre-back only made 18 appearances for United during the 2017-18 campaign, however, with an ankle problem seeing the Ivorian miss much of the season.

Bailly was overlooked by Mourinho in the latter stages of the campaign, meanwhile, as Chris Smalling and Phil Jones were preferred at the heart of the defence.

According to The Independent, Mourinho has become frustrated with Bailly's unavailability on a consistent basis, and could now sell the defender in this summer's transfer window.

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Indeed, it is being reported that the arrival of Toby Alderweireld from Tottenham Hotspur could see Bailly shown the exit door at Old Trafford ahead of the new season.

Can United really afford to sell him?

The short answer is no. It was extremely bizarre that Mourinho did not select Bailly in the final months of the season.

The United boss claimed that the fact Ivory Coast had not qualified for the 2018 World Cup meant that Bailly was behind the likes of Smalling, Jones, Victor Lindelof and Marcos Rojo in the pecking order at centre-back.

There is absolutely no question that Bailly is United's best centre-back, however, and it would be an absolute disaster to lose the 24-year-old this summer.

Bailly, who is valued at £31.5m by transfermarkt.co.uk, should be the number one pick to start at centre-back for the Red Devils next season.

And United would be made to seriously regret it if they allowed the former Villarreal defender to seek pastures new ahead of the 2018-19 campaign.