Serie A side AS Roma are refusing to give up on signing Chris Smalling from Manchester United this summer. The 30-year-old spend the 2019/20 season on loan at the club with them trying to seek a permanent move for the player but United want to receive £20 million for the player to leave the club permanently with Roma trying to get a better deal. With United being pressed to sign Jadon Sancho for £108 million, with Borussia Dortmund sticking to their guns, it is only fair that United do the same.
Smalling made a total of 37 appearances for Roma this season, scoring three goals and two assists and seemed happy in Italy and stated that he would like to remain in the country, whether at Roma or not. Due to the coronavirus pandemic, Roma are unable to afford to spend £20 million on Smalling this summer but Italian journalist Gianluca Di Marzio has reported that the club are not going to give up on the player yet and are hopeful of reaching an affordable fee for the player.
Smalling has also been linked to Inter Milan, Juventus and now Newcastle United which might create. abiding war for the player. It was suggested that Inter Milan would be willing to spend the cash to sign Smalling, who would line up alongside former United teammates Romelu Lukaku, Ashley Young and Alexis Sanchez if he did sign for the San Siro club. It is suggested that Smalling is not interested in signing for Newcastle – why would he?
Smalling is currently on holiday after being released by Roma earlier this month after not being named in their final UEFA Europa League squad. They were beaten by Sevilla in the competition, the same team that United were beaten by, exiting the competition at the semi-final stage with the Spanish side taking on Inter Milan in the final on Friday evening. With Ole Gunnar Solskjaer seemingly light in defenders this summer, there is a possibility that the 30-year-old will be retained by United.
It has been reported that Phil Jones and Marcos Rojo could be sold this summer and there are doubts regarding Eric Bailly, who has been riddles with injury and poor form since signing for the Old Trafford club in the summer of 2016, when United were managed by Jose Mourinho. Smalling will probably want to leave United, especially after having a good season in Italy and finding some form once again after a turbulent few seasons at United.
However, United have their price for the player, which will need to be matched by the buying club. Roma have had a chance to sign the player and if Inter Milan are interested, the fact that they will be playing UEFA Champions League next season, whether they win the Europa League or not and Roma will be in the Europa League group stage, Smalling might like the opportunity to play in the elite European competition at Inter, a club that he might find so many more better opportunities in the future.
Written by John Walker
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