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This is it, AS Roma’s so-called final attempt to save Chris Smalling from his Manchester United nightmare.

Pushed to one side by Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, the centre-back has patiently waited all summer for the opportunity to return to Italy, where he had a great time on loan under Paulo Fonseca, and this could be the bid that turns the tide. 

At least, that’s what Roma will be hoping for, as Gazzetta dello Sport believe they are currently ahead of Inter in the race to acquire the defender’s services.

The newspaper, on their website, explain the ‘final revival’ will arrive in the ‘next few hours’, with the Serie A side going as far as €15m, which added to the €3m they paid for the loan last year would take the entire fee to €18m.

Despite this planned assault, Roma ‘know it remains difficult’, but they’re doing it due to Fonseca’s insistence on having the player.

The offer will be a ‘loan with an obligation to buy’, and ‘if they manage to close it over the next couple days, good’.

Otherwise, with time running out, they will turn to other objectives.

The clock is ticking, and Roma are well aware of that.