Manchester United: Reputed Premier League club joins the race for in-demand United veteran
Manchester United are edging closer to a mass exodus this summer.
Born and brought up in Greenwich, England, Chris Smalling became the focal point around the ferocious yet beautiful celebration Manchester United devotees were performing on that bright afternoon at Etihad Stadium in June 2018.
United had salvaged a 3-2 victory over their noisy neighbours Manchester City, and United supporters all around the world could now breath the sigh of relief as Smalling’s winner at the 69th-minute denied Man City of their fifth Premier League title on that derby day — though it was City to be crowned champions of England by the end of the season.
Sir Alex Ferguson — a record 13 times winner of the coveted Premier League title — was at the helm of Manchester United. It was the year of 2010 when Stretford End saw the arrival of Chris Smalling from Fulham for an undisclosed fee.
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People close to the club eulogised Smalling’s introduction as the arrival of their ‘new Rio Ferdinand’. Snubbing a chance to join Arsenal, Smalling was pretty sure that he would be a success at the ‘Theater of Dreams’. May be Sir Alex Ferguson was also adamant on that fact he had provided the club with a gem in Smalling.
Although there are many to make clamour for the sake of a forced argument these days, Smalling has had played some pivotal parts over the years within the Manchester United squad, guiding the team to two Premier League, one FA Cup, one EFL Cup, one Europa League, and one community shield.
But as per the current scenario, the 30-year-old veteran’s own future is in jeopardy, with club’s current boss Ole Gunnar Solskjaer not seeing him amongst his top two centre-backs who could make the team’s first eleven week in, week out.
Having spent the 2019-20 season on loan in Italian side AS Roma, Smalling has crafted a fine reputation of himself outside England, with him scoring three goals and proving two assists from 30 appearances in Serie A last term.
AS Roma reportedly had to pay £18m asking price to Manchester United to get Chris Smalling signed on a permanent basis before the start of the Europa League knock-out stages. Roma’s reluctance in meeting the demands of the English club saw Smalling’s return to Manchester. However, it is widely believed that the Englishman will be sold this summer.
That being said, former Manchester United defender Steve Bruce wants to sign Smalling for his Newcastle United this summer, as per a recently-emerged report from Sky Sports. It is reported that Bruce wants to stick to his ‘buy British’ motto to the further rejuvenation of the Newcastle squad.
In the meantime, some other outlets have claimed that Manchester United have increased their asking price to £25m as a consequence of Smalling’s sublime form while on loan for AS Roma last term.
Selling Smalling would help Manchester united in two significant ways: Manchester United would be able to make some space for the new arrivals, and they could pocket some much-needed cash for their future dealings amidst this financial turmoil caused by coronavirus pandemic.
There have also been interests from Serie A clubs, with Inter Milan understandably running at the front of the queue. Smalling has had been a great servant for the Mancunian club, but this summer transfer window might see a potential suitor putting a period between him and his prolonged stint at the red side of Manchester.
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Do you think Smalling should join Newcastle this summer?