Roma are set to reopen negotiations with Manchester United over Chris Smalling after missing out on Jan Vertonghen.
The Belgian defender was a target for the Italian side as they look to add to their defence this summer.
However, he has elected to join Benfica after leaving Tottenham and so Roma have been forced to turn their attention back to Smalling.
The centre-back has spent the season on loan with the Serie A side after Manchester United made it clear there was no place for him in their team this season.
He’s impressed in Italy, rebuilding his career and becoming a key player under manager Paulo Fonseca.
Talks between the two clubs over a new deal for next season have been underway for the past few months but appeared to have been broken when Roma turned their attention elsewhere.
However, with Vertonghen off the table, Corriere Dello Sport report that ‘all roads lead to Smalling’ and Roma have now ‘regained contact’ with the player’s entourage and United.
It’s stated Smalling does not want to return to Old Trafford after a falling out with Solskjaer and is even willing to accept €3m per year in wages, less than what’s on offer in the Premier League, to make it happen.
The problem is the two clubs are apart in their valuations at present. Roma were hoping for a renewal of the loan deal but with an ‘obligation’ to buy added on.
Manchester United, though, want a permanent deal and set a ‘provocative’ €25m asking price in July.
Their hope had been to ‘feed an auction’, but Smalling’s preference for Rome has made that somewhat difficult.
Thus, the two clubs need to sit down and work out a deal, but given that there is a desire from all parties to make it happen, it seems likely it will at some point this summer.
