Man United are readying a Defender To Join Italian club Roma. Manchester United defender Chris Smalling is close to joining Roma on a season-long loan for a €3m (£2.7m) fee, according to Sky in Italy. The 29-year-old visited United’s headquarters on Thursday to define his exit and is expected to fly to Italy in the evening to undergo a medical.
Talks between the two clubs started on Tuesday with United initially requesting €20m (£18m) between a loan fee and option to buy, but eventually decided to opt for a one-year loan to avoid long bureaucratic matters that could have scuppered the move.
The Serie A club are keen on bringing in an experienced centre-back after seeing efforts to land Tottenham’s Toby Alderweireld, Liverpool’s Dejan Lovren and Juventus’ Daniele Rugani failing to materialise this summer.
Roma have seen stalwart Kostas Manolas leave for Napoli for €36m this summer but need more cover after bringing in Italy U21 defender Gianluca Mancini from Atalanta for €20m.
Smalling joined United from Fulham for £7m in 2010, but has fallen down the pecking order at the club following the world-record move that brought Harry Maguire to Old Trafford.
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