Chris Smalling could be handed a shock recall to the Manchester United squad amid uncertainty over whether Roma can afford to sign the defender permanently.
Smalling has impressed on loan at Roma this season after he was deemed surplus to requirements at Old Trafford last summer following the arrival of Harry Maguire from Leicester.
The Serie A side have been keen to sign former England centre-back Smalling on a permanent deal, but are reportedly unable to meet United's £18.2million asking price.
However, it has emerged that Red Devils boss Ole Gunnar Solskjaer could be ready to include the defender in his first-team plans once more - but only on one condition.
Solskjaer is looking for a pacy defender to play alongside Maguire, enabling his United side to play a higher line next season, according to Metro.
Smalling has the speed Solskjaer needs, and Metro claims the 30-year-old will be brought back to Old Trafford if the United boss cannot find a regular partner for Maguire in the transfer market.
United have been linked with Bournemouth defender Nathan Ake and Villarreal centre-back Pau Torres, but face competition from Manchester City and Barcelona respectively.
Jan Vertonghen has also been touted as a possible United signing after the veteran defender's contract expired at Tottenham.
Smalling - who is contracted at Old Trafford until 2022 - has enjoyed a successful season in the Italian capital, making 35 appearances across all competitions and scoring twice.
His current loan deal with Roma comes to an end in early August and Juventus, Napoli and Inter Milan are all monitoring the situation, according to Calcio Mercato.
Roma are only willing to pay £16.3m for Smalling, and are hopeful United will lower their asking price in light of the defender's desire to remain in Italy.
"Coming over here and trying to hit ground running with football was the priority," Smalling told the BBC in February.
"But my family settling in and me learning the language and enjoying the culture, it's something you need to make the most of.
"My family and I definitely are," he added.
"I feel like I'm picking up a lot on Italian style, and tactics and how to manage games. I'm definitely adding to my game."
Fosanouyz
0
smalling is good let him back
Yaebenrst
0
buy
Yaebenrst
0
Your
Yaebenrst
1
sell Jones smalling lingard
zaoacdilo
0
AustinEvergreen
0
What bothers me is that P. Jones is never mentioned when it comes to transfers🤔🤔 what is he using 😨
Ya they seem to favour this English players even though some of them are flops we're still stuck with them
zimadinsu
0
What bothers me is that P. Jones is never mentioned when it comes to transfers🤔🤔 what is he using 😨
v bn scratching my head over this one for years on end without an answer but then again I think the answer has always been there for Al & sundry....maybe bcoz he's English.Why in God's name would they want to sell Rojo and stay with Jones? 9th wonder of the World! !!!
Biuacdnpuy
0
Our Captain Maguire is too slow ' Ole please bring back Marco Rojo and sell Phill Jones to Everton.
Nezcdiktuy
1
pls sell p jones and bring smalling back I don't like wat Maguire is playing
nabcltuyz
2
Manchester United black star
KxS
2
Bring Him Back And Loan Jones LOL😂
Zepaersty
1
What about M.Rojo big Man
cuzdeiklru
1
save us cost and embarrassment. get him back without delay
miobceknpy
0
Bring him back
Vivek1017
0
l wonder what's going on , keeping Jones and sending smalling on loan who has managed to pare up with rojo, lindelof , blind, Evans and even Jones himself 🤔🤔🤔
Maybe because no one wants Jones.. 😂
AustinEvergreen
3
What bothers me is that P. Jones is never mentioned when it comes to transfers🤔🤔 what is he using 😨
Suoblnopt
0
Smalling must come back! This is a defender that defends and scores, that's why Roma want him so much
it's best we use someone e like smalling , the fact that he already knows the team and play a 100% for the club. sometimes players just loose form , it happens to the best players
Suoblnopt
0
am happy ole you have recognized lindelof is not a player
smh bros lindelof is a good player he just dont have that pace that the boss is looking for in certain games.. what is wrong with you fake manu fans.
ingia
0
smalling>>>>>>>>lindelof
pieblmopr
0
sell him to raise funds
Borana_niccur
1
am happy ole you have recognized lindelof is not a player
lindelof is the best defender we have,open your eyes just because Maguire's massive head makes him the best header doesn't mean he is much better than lindelof
Chikoboy
2
am happy ole you have recognized lindelof is not a player
Vuwbilty
1
we don't need him ND Sancho, we need coman, Stefan de vrig
nahyan22
15
He's one of those rare players who gives everything to the team and doesn't play for money
Vaaaben
3
When Smalling went to Roma on loan he was down the pecking order. Correct decision by Ole to send both him & Sanchez on loan & sell Young & Lukaku to Inter. We must not bring him back. It is time to move on. May be We will finally come to an agreement with Roma for both side to be satisfied with good deals.
Dosciklot
0
sell him we must sign Sancho and Grealish
must sell him to rise up our budget to get good players
Daniel_Jay
0
Smalling does more mistakes in one game than the whole team in a whole season !! Why would anyone insist in him taking the important role in the middle of our defence ? Might as well ask the opposite team to play with 12 players with an extra attacker !!!
You talking about some other guy, Smalling does not make such mistakes
Daniel_Jay
0
sell him we must sign Sancho and Grealish
He's a defender, we have money for the other players whether we sell him or not
Daniel_Jay
4
Smalling must come back! This is a defender that defends and scores, that's why Roma want him so much
Chayan032
1
u have Jones and u think otherwise. sell him first then u go for another defender
Filippo04
0
Smalling does more mistakes in one game than the whole team in a whole season !! Why would anyone insist in him taking the important role in the middle of our defence ? Might as well ask the opposite team to play with 12 players with an extra attacker !!!
He performed well at Roma, that's why United are considering taking him back in the team
Licaclmnop
3
bring smailing back. sell Baily and jones
Dosciklot
0
sell him we must sign Sancho and Grealish
United Kingdom5061663
0
Smalling does more mistakes in one game than the whole team in a whole season !! Why would anyone insist in him taking the important role in the middle of our defence ? Might as well ask the opposite team to play with 12 players with an extra attacker !!!
United Kingdom5061663
0
I would say give them all a free transfer .... imagine the money that we’ll save from paying their wages ...
Reddevilsalways
0
Sell him that's the best option..He don't get more game time here..I think it's time to cash up on some players.. Lingard, smalling, Mata, Sanchez,Jones should be sold..If ole can't find any replacement just play tuanzebe, mengi and bailey in rotation..We should be looking forward to sign a rw, midfielder, DM and a striker too.. Sancho to united we may know in case weeks if it will be happening or not... need to look for players in middle and we need good back up players if Bruno and pogba didn't play well or injured we don't have any to change the game a e need that we have to look for a DM like ndidi, partey too
duwbcdl
2
Bring him back! Only Bailly is better than him at Man Utd, Maguire is far away to be the best!
Chima92
1
Man Utd have had this habit of valuing unproductive players and devaluing the well performing players. I rate Smalling above Maguire at the moment, infant Lindelof to me is better than Maguire. Buying a player for €80m doesn't mean he is the best player in his position.
Zowcdknz
1
wipmnopu
1
l wonder what's going on , keeping Jones and sending smalling on loan who has managed to pare up with rojo, lindelof , blind, Evans and even Jones himself 🤔🤔🤔
Even till Now Am still surprised why Smalling went on a Loan spell and Not Jones🤔😂
detbcdl
2
l wonder what's going on , keeping Jones and sending smalling on loan who has managed to pare up with rojo, lindelof , blind, Evans and even Jones himself 🤔🤔🤔
fambdmpy
1
Sell him buy Ake don’t call him back let him be doing his good work over there
Zahbceprt
0
Smalling has no speed
he's actually fast
madcow
4
We should sell him because we are not going to get any money in the future if we sell him. As much as I respect Smalling, I think a new venture is best for him. We need to get rid of Smalling, Jones and Rojo. We should be getting 2 CBs actually. Probably, Koulibaly and Ake to challenge for spots. If we manage to get them both, we should sell Bailly too (sadly because all Man U fans love him). That way we would have Maguire, Koulibaly, Lindelof, Ake (who's cheap because he is in the premiership), Tuanzebe and Teden Mengi which is a defence capable of doing big things and with good depth. We also need to focus on other positions.
JamesWalker
4
Roma should do everything in their power to sign SmallDINI, cuz returning to Old Trafford mean he'll become Smalling once more.....I'm just saying
jomelmprz
0
Chelsea go for him
Obax
0
Phil Jones has speed too
Phil Jones still alive
Noodeimtz
0
United keep him
Ben_1011
4
Phil Jones has speed too
Hedabckor
1
Smalling's pace is not that bad, and he is better, HM might have injury, and during that time he can pair up with VL. and i think he can do better than VL