According to a report from The Mirror, Arsenal are leading the race to sign Manchester United’s Chris Smalling.
The Englishman is on loan at AS Roma and has been one of the best defenders in Italy this season. Smalling’s loan deal expires at the end of the season and he will return to Old Trafford this summer.
However, Ole Gunnar Solskjaer is said to prefer the option of giving Axel Tuanzebe a chance in the first-team which makes Smalling surplus to requirements. Arsenal are said to be ahead of Leicester City, Everton and Roma for his signature and the report claims that he will be available for just £18 million.
Do Arsenal need Smalling?
The Gunners are struggling defensively this season having conceded more goals (23) than they have scored (21). David Luiz’s signing in the summer hasn’t quite worked out while Sokratis seems to have lost his confidence.
Rob Holding hasn’t fully recovered from his injury while Shkodran Mustafi proved that he isn’t the answer in the league. Arsenal need an experienced defender to come in and save the day and Smalling could be the guy.
The 29-year-old knows the Premier League well and he could be a good example to the youngsters. His form has been immaculate this season but it is unlikely that Arsenal will fork out £18m for a player his age.
Arsenal will also find it difficult to accommodate him considering our numbers in defence. With Saliba arriving in the summer, we will have seven first-team centre-halves and a new one cannot come in without someone going out.
Manchester United will also not be too keen on selling Smalling to one of their direct rivals. The Englishman, should he continue his form, will have more suitors in the summer and as much as it makes sense, a move to the Emirates is unlikely.
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