Manchester United enter talks with £30m Manchester City target and Villarreal star

Manchester United have reportedly started negotiations over a potential summer deal to sign Ivory Coast international defender Eric Bailly, according to Sky sources.

The 13-time Premier League champions, who defeated Crystal Palace in the 2016 FA Cup final at Wembley Stadium last month, but could only finish fifth in the English top-flight standings this term, are ready to try and lure the Villarreal centre-half to Old Trafford.

Photo: Marc Atkins / Offside.

The 22-year-old, who has 15 international caps for his country, scored one goal and provided one assist in 35 appearances in all competitions for the La Liga outfit this season.

Bailly; who is also said to be attracting interest from fellow European giants Manchester City, FC Barcelona and Paris-Saint Germain, with all four potential suitors now in discussions with the Spanish side, is not believed to have a release clause.

However the report suggests that any potential transfer fee would be in the region of £30m.