Football transfer rumours: Chris Smalling to sign $16 m deal with Roma

Italian club AS Roma are reportedly ready to pay $16 million for defender Chris Smalling. The player was loaned out by Manchester United for one year and is tied with United by a contract running until 2022.

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Out of favour at United

Smalling made over 300 appearances for United after being signed from Fulham in 2010, helping the Red Devils win two Premier League titles, the Europa League and an FA Cup title. The centre-back was deemed surplus to requirements by Ole Gunnar Solskjaer in the summer of 2019. Smalling had fallen behind Harry Maguire and Victor Lindelof in the pecking order at Old Trafford and was battling with Marcos Rojo, Phil Jones and Axel Tuanzebe to be the third-choice centre-back before going out on loan. However, the player has put up consistent performances, cementing his place in the Roma starting 11. Impressed with his performances, Roma management looks to make things work with the English international. They are ready to purchase the player out-right and would reportedly offer a five-year contract too.

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Roma have kept three clean sheets in his first seven games in the Serie A. The player has won every tackle he has attempted so far, and has ensured that no player manages to successfully dribble past him. Smalling was exceptional against Napoli, marked by a successful attempt to clear the ball on the goal line, compelling some United fans to comment against the team's decision to allow him to leave the club in the summer.

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Other Italian clubs have also targeted him

Other Italian clubs like AC Milan and Inter Milan have reportedly made attempts to hijack Roma’s permanent move for Smalling. It will be interesting to see if United are ready to part ways with their defender, or Smalling returns to the Old Trafford for the next season.

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