Another day, another update on the Chris Smalling to AS Roma saga.
However, this time, there appears to be movement from the Italian side, who are putting together an offer to present to Manchester United.
That’s what Corriere dello Sport are reporting on Wednesday, claiming that Guido Fienga, Roma’s CEO, ‘will offer through his agents €17m for the English defender’s transfer’.
It’s not indicated whether that’s up front, or whether that would come as part of a loan package, but it won’t be enough straight away, as United want €22m.
Either way, it’s AS Roma’s desire to ‘speed up’ the situation surrounding Smalling due to the fact they want to give Paulo Fonseca his assets as soon as possible to prepare the new season.
The Englishman is part of those plans in the Portuguese’s head, but if they really can’t get anything done, then alternatives, such as Arsenal’s Sokratis Papastathopoulos and Napoli’s Nikola Maksimović, will be looked at.
