Pranav Nair
Manchester United want £20m for Chris Smalling
According to the Sun, Manchester United have placed a £20million price tag on defender Chris Smalling.
The 30-year-old spent the whole of this season on loan in Italy with Roma. He returned to United last week upon the expiry of the deal.
His performances earned him rave reviews from Italy. Both Roma and Inter Milan are keen to secure his signature on a permanent basis.
According to the report, Smalling is keen to return to the Serie A and is willing to take a pay cut to force the move.
Given his significant £130,000-a-week deal at United, lowering his demands could prove helpful in the likes of Roma reaching an agreement.
The sticking point continues to be the difference in valuation between the two clubs. Roma are willing to pay around £15m while United are adamant not to sell for anything below £20m.
Smalling did not feature in Roma’s Europa League quarter-finals against Sevilla. It is debatable if he could have made a difference on the night. The Spaniards will now face Manchester United in the semifinals of the competition.
United manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer remains a fan of the player. It remains to be seen if he has a future at Old Trafford if a permanent deal cannot be reached.
Smalling will however find himself low down the pecking order. He would be at best the fourth choice as long as the likes of Harry Maguire, Victor Lindelof and Eric Bailly all stay fit.
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The Red Devils are seeking to bring in another defender in the transfer window. Apart from Smalling, Marcos Rojo could also be sold to make way for new arrivals. (h/t The Sun)
The Serie A has become a preferred destination for United outcasts. Romelu Lukaku moved to Inter last summer. He was followed by Ashley Young this January and Alexis Sanchez this summer.
Whether Smalling will follow them or not remains to be seen.
