Roma have expressed an interest in signing Manchester United and England international Chris Smalling on a permanent basis, after the defender impressed on a one-year loan spell last campaign.
The Serie A side are keen on the Englishman and according to Goal, have tabled a bid in the region of €12 million (£11 million) for the defender, who Manchester United reportedly value at £18 million.
Chris Smalling’s spell at Roma
Smalling’s season at I Giallorossi saw the side earn a fifth place league finish, which secured Europa League football for the upcoming campaign.
The Englishman featured 36 times in all competitions and kept nine clean sheets overall. He also scored three times and provided two assists, and would have been an asset in the latter stages of the side’s Europa League campaign.
However, Smalling was unable to finish La Magica’s European competition, due to the terms in his loan-deal, which saw his contract end following the domestic season.
The former Fulham defender was disappointed to have been uninvolved in the tournament, a sentiment that the Italian side also shared, having felt his absence in their round of 16 defeat to eventual winners Sevilla in the round of 16.
Permanent bid for Chris Smalling
Roma manager Paulo Fonseca told ESPN in May, that he was considering a long-term deal for the defender.
“I will do everything I can to keep him at Roma next year too,” he said, “I know he wants to stay, let’s see what happens.”
There is increasing possibility that Smalling could feature again for Roma next season, with Italian journalist Fabrizio Romano suggesting an agreement is close between the two parties.
Any deal involving Smalling for Roma, may require both sides coming to a compromise over the £18 million valuation for the player, who has two years left on his current Manchester United contract.
Where does Smalling’s future lie?
The 30 year-old has fallen down the pecking-order behind the alleged £80 million acquisition of Harry Maguire and the preferred options of Victor Lindelöf and Eric Bailly.
However, with Maguire’s footballing-future uncertain due to his reported arrest on holiday, it could also see Chris Smalling take up the potentially vacated position and commit his immediate future to Manchester United.
It seems Smalling seemingly favours a move back to the Stadio Olimpico and could become one of three new permanent arrivals from the Premier League, following the signings of Henrikh Mkhitaryan and Pedro from Arsenal and Chelsea respectively.
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