Arsenal are amongst a clutch of Premier League clubs interested in signing Chris Smalling.
The Manchester United defender is currently on a season long loan with Roma, and has impressed the Serie A side so much that they want to make the arrangement permanent.
However, having so far failing to match United’s valuation of the player, he could be set for a return to England at the end of the season. With there unlikely to be a place for him at Old Trafford with the establishment of Harry Maguire and Victor Lindelof as the starting defensive pair, United could be ready to sell the former England defender, which will alert Leicester and Everton, as well as the Gunners.
However, Arsenal could well be favourites to sign him, with scouts watching his performance on Friday night as he helped Roma keep a clean sheet against Serie A league leaders Inter Milan at the San Siro.
Andy is an exiled English football fan living in Cyprus. He loves all sports but football is his abiding passion, and he still has dreams every now and then about scoring the winning goal in a Wembley Cup Final, even though his playing days are long gone. He follows most major leagues, across Europe at least, and has a favoured team in each. When he’s not watching, listening, reading or downloading podcasts about football, he spend his time worrying about his beloved Arsenal.