---
title: "City scouts watch Villarreal defender"
canonical: "https://readmancity.com/2016/04/07/city-scouts-watch-villarreal-defender/"
type: "post"
language: "en-GB"
author: "Jack Brain"
section: "Articles"
published: "2016-04-07T22:27:32Z"
modified: "2016-04-07T22:27:32Z"
---

# City scouts watch Villarreal defender

Manchester City sent scouts to watch Villarreal’s Europa League quarter-final tie against Sparta Prague on Thursday night and were paying special attention to defender Eric Bailly, according to the [Daily Mirror](https://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/football/transfer-news/villarreals-eric-bailly-manchester-city-7711412).

The 21-year-old is a target for incoming manager Pep Guardiola, who is planning a defensive overhaul in the summer.

![Denis Doyle/Getty Images Sport](https://media.readmancity.com/readmancity/2016/04/511612620.jpg)

Previous reports have suggested that Martin Demichelis and Eliaquim Mangala could be among the casualties of a summer exodus, which could now see Bailly replace one of them.

Bailly was an ever-present part of Ivory Coast’s 2015 African Cup of Nations-winning campaign, appearing in all six of their matches alongside City duo Yaya Toure and Wilfried Bony.

![Manuel Queimadelos Alonso/Getty Images Sport](https://media.readmancity.com/readmancity/2016/04/516701708.jpg)

Despite only being at Estadio El Madrigal for 15 months, Guardiola is confident that he can convince the ex-Espanyol centre-back to quit La Liga for a Premier League venture.

The Sky Blues’ defensive issues were reinforced with two mistakes in Wednesday night’s 2-2 draw with French giants Paris Saint-Germain that prevented City from taking a lead back to the Etihad Stadium ahead of next week’s second leg.