Manchester United have rebuffed Arsenal’s attempts to take Eric Bailly on loan for the remainder of the season, claims The Daily Mail.
Arsenal manager Unai Emery has already revealed the club cannot afford to sign players permanently this month and are trying to work on loan signings.
The Gunners have been heavily linked with a move for Barcelona outcast Denis Suarez all month, though talks reportedly broke down on Wednesday night.
Emery has now been served with another blow in the transfer market after failing to prise Bailly away from rivals United.
Bailly has dropped completely out of favour at United in the last 12 months but a loan move was always likely to fall short.
The Ivory Coast international could face Arsenal in Friday’s FA Cup fourth round action after serving a three-match suspension.
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer promised fresh chances to every United player when he was appointed Mourinho’s replacement but Bailly may have wasted his.
The 24-year-old sat out Solskjaer’s first two matches in charge and was then sent off towards the end of United’s 4-1 win over Bournemouth, which remains his only appearance under the Norwegian.
Phil Jones and Victor Lindelof have cemented their place as United’s first-choice pairing under Solskjaer and Bailly’s future at Old Trafford will likely be addressed at the end of the season.
Since making his United debut in August 2016, United have a better win ratio in the Premier League when Bailly has started (61%) compared to when he hasn’t featured from the off (53.4%).
