Roma boss confirms Smalling chat as Man Utd exit could occur within days

Roma head coach Paulo Fonseca has admitted he is still confident that the Serie A side can sign Chris Smalling from Manchester United.

Smalling enjoyed a very successful loan spell with Roma last season, playing in 37 games as he got his career back on track.

Another Italian side, Inter Milan, have shown interest in the player since, potentially offering United a winger in a swap deal.

The defender is keen to return to Roma, though, and has also turned down offers from other Premier League clubs to do so.

However, Roma are yet to meet United’s asking price for the 30-year-old, which has led to claims that Smalling could be angry at his parent club.

The Serie A outfit have turned their attention elsewhere, beating the likes of Tottenham to the signing of Marash Kumbulla from Verona. However, they have not ruled out another return for Smalling.

Despite the chances of a permanent exit seeming to diminish for Smalling, Roma’s boss has now revealed that he is still in regular communication with the Englishman.

“I’m confident,” Paulo Fonseca said when asked about Roma’s chances of signing the Man Utd outcast. “We’re working to get Smalling here.

“I’m in contact with him, I spoke to him yesterday. He wants to be here and we want him here. He could join us in the next few days.”

Smalling has been training separately from the rest of the Red Devils squad recently.

SOLSKJAER PATIENT FOR SIGNINGS

Meanwhile, Manchester United boss Ole Gunnar Solskjaer called for more patience after failing to provide a positive update on his club’s hunt for new signings.

United’s hunt to sign Jadon Sancho from Borussia Dortmund has proved the transfer saga of the current window.

But talk of the deal has gone quiet, with the Red Devils only bringing in Donny van de Beek so far.

And when pressed on the latest developments at Friday’s press conference, Solskjaer did not offer much hope.

Read more…