Manchester United duo Eric Bailly and Phil Jones have reportedly told their teammates that they will be leaving the club in the summer transfer window.
In spite of the Red Devils' defensive struggles this term, Ralf Rangnick has largely kept faith with Raphael Varane, Victor Lindelof and Harry Maguire, despite heavy criticism falling the way of the latter.
As a result, Bailly and Jones have often been consigned to the bench for Man United, and the former recently took to social media to vent his frustrations at being benched by Maguire.
Ahead of the Red Devils' loss to Arsenal last month, Bailly responded "Please!" to an Instagram user who called for him to start over Maguire - the England international was benched at the Emirates after a bomb threat to his home as United lost 3-1.
Furthermore, Man United are expected to bolster their defensive ranks ahead of Erik ten Hag's first full season in charge, with Pau Torres and Antonio Rudiger both touted as possible targets.
With Ten Hag likely to oversee a major defensive shake-up, the Manchester Evening News reports that both Bailly and Jones have now outlined their intentions to leave the club.
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Bailly extended his stay at Old Trafford until 2024 with the option of an additional 12 months last year but has only featured seven times in all tournaments this term - four of which have come in the Premier League.
In the English top flight, Bailly has only earned 217 minutes this term and is still waiting for his first Premier League appearance of 2022, having been an unused substitute in his side's last five league games.
The report adds that United now accept that Bailly's contract renewal was a mistake, with the Ivory Coast international penning fresh terms as part of Ed Woodward's idea to increase his resale value.
However, United now seem set to make a loss on the £34.2m they forked out to sign Bailly from Villarreal in 2016, and the 28-year-old has since gone on to make 113 appearances for the club in all competitions.
Bailly has provided a solitary goal and assist for the Red Devils over the past six years, winning the EFL Cup, Europa League and Community Shield with the club in 2017.
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Meanwhile, Jones's United career was thought to have been over last year after he missed the entirety of the 2020-21 season with a knee injury, but the ex-England international has gone on to make five appearances for the club in all tournaments this term.
Jones was widely praised for his showing in a 1-0 loss to Wolverhampton Wanderers back in January but has only played three times in the Premier League since, including a 15-minute cameo in Monday's 3-0 win over Brentford.
Having arrived from Blackburn Rovers in 2011, Jones is Man United's longest-serving player alongside David de Gea and has gone on to score six goals and provide 10 assists in 228 games for the 20-time English champions.
As well as Jones and Bailly, Nemanja Matic has confirmed he will depart at the end of the season, while Edinson Cavani, Juan Mata, Lee Grant and Paul Pogba are all set to leave as free agents.
Jesse Lingard's lack of game time will supposedly lead him to seek a move elsewhere in the summer transfer window, with the playmaker's brother recently hitting out at Man United after he failed to get on the pitch against Brentford.
Ben Knapton
