This article is part of Football FanCast’s Transfer Focus series, which provides opinion and analysis on recent transfer news…
According to The Daily Mirror, Arsenal are amongst a number of Premier League clubs who are interested in signing Manchester United’s Chris Smalling.
What’s the story?
The 30-year-old centre-back is currently on loan with Serie A outfit AS Roma, who he joined for the duration of the 2019/20 campaign.
Now, it is being reported that the Gunners are one of several teams who want to give him a reprieve in England, with Everton and Leicester City also said to be pursuing him.
It is believed the Red Devils want £18m for his services.
A bargain
At Old Trafford, the former Fulham defender often struggled to make an impression, which led to his departure on loan. He made 323 appearances for the 20-time English champions, but he played in more than 30 Premier League games in just one season. Portions of the club’s fanbase have slammed him in the the past, as well.
However, the loan move to Italy appears to have rejuvenated the 31-time England international. This term, he is actually the Giallorossi’s best performing player to date, with an average WhoScored rating of 7.48. He has impressed in a number of different areas, including the 4.5 aerial battles per match he has won, and the minimal 0.2 occasions he has been dribbled past per match.
He has also contributed going forward as well, picking up two goals and one assist, whilst also amassing an average pass accuracy of 90.1%.
Hindsight is a wonderful thing, but it now looks as though he was stagnating at Old Trafford. This change of scenery and culture appears to have come at the perfect time, and he now appears to be showing the ability that he has often threatened to display.
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At the Emirates Stadium, things look a little bleak, and there is no real indication of what the future holds.
But Smalling’s arrival in would surely be a boost to the team. He has experience, has won trophies – both domestic and European – and looks to be hitting the best form of his career. He may already be 30, but £18m for a player who looks arguably better than he ever has does not represent a huge outlay.
Whisper it quietly, but it would perhaps be a very astute signing, and it could be a lifeline for Smalling himself in England’s top tier. It could be a win-win scenario involved.
In other news, one Gunner had a shocking game against Brighton.
