As you may have seen over the weekend, there is now some confidence from AS Roma’s side that they will be able to count on Chris Smalling next season.
For as long as we can remember this season, the Serie A side have been trying to find a way to convince Manchester United to either sell to them at a slightly cut price or extend the loan of the centre-back, to no avail.
However, reports from Italy over the weekend suggested a breakthrough had been made, with the Premier League club now open to extending the temporary deal by an extra season in exchange for a small fee and an obligation to buy.
Corriere dello Sport on Monday go through the details, explaining it was Guido Fienga, the club’s CEO, who rang Manchester United to offer them €3m to keep him next season with a guaranteed fee in 2021.
It’s written those in charge at Old Trafford found it ‘reasonable’, but before everyone starts celebrating, details, and important ones at that, need to be sorted out.
Most importantly is the fee Roma would have to pay if certain conditions are met, with United refusing to go below €15m for now.
As for said conditions, they also need to be detailed, expected to be linked to objectives such as the number of appearances Smalling makes and whether or not the Italians qualify for the Champions League.
Beyond that, Corriere feel the ‘feelings are positive’, as the centre-back will now be able to continue as an ‘undisputed starter’ in Italy’s capital, as he aims to make Gareth Southgate’s squad for next year’s Euros.
