Roma Prepare New Offer for Man Utd's Chris Smalling as Agent Travels for Talks

Roma are said to be ready to step up their efforts to keep hold of Chris Smalling at the club as they prepare a new offer for the central defender.

When Smalling was shipped out on loan by Manchester United to Roma at the start of the season, few would have expected the move to be so beneficial to all parties involved. Yet, the Englishman has been a key figure at the back for I Giallorossi in 2019/20.

Roma are keen to extend his stay at the club beyond this season, either by signing him on loan for another year or making the move permanent. Gazzetta dello Sport (via Sport Witness) now report that the Serie A outfit are ready to step up their efforts to keep hold of Smalling by preparing another offer.

The Red Devils are said to be looking for around €20m for his services - a fee which Roma have so far proven unwilling to pay. Sport Witness point towards a previous Gazzetta dello Sport report which notes that Roma were ready to table an offer of €3m for another season-long loan, with a purchase clause set at €15m - which would be paid in three different instalments.

However, the report claims they will now put forward a €17m package to Man Utd in an attempt to convince them to part ways with Smalling. This would involve another €3m payment for another loan, as well as a payment of €14m which Roma would pay in 2021 in one go.

Smalling's agent is said to have travelled to Rome to hold talks with the club in an attempt to work out 'how to move' for next season.

With Ole Gunnar Solskjaer looking to raise funds in order to sign his preferred targets in the next transfer window, he and the club will be looking for a figure as close to the €20m mark as possible.

Should Roma wish to secure his services permanently, they will have to most fast as a number of other clubs have shown an interest in Smalling. As well as Arsenal and Tottenham, a source confirmed to 90min in May that Newcastle's prospective new owners have identified Smalling as a target as they look to invest in British talent.