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Man Utd could complete first January sale within 10 days as Italian side make contact
Manchester United could boost their January transfer kitty by agreeing a player sale in the next 10 days.
Manchester United could confirm the permanent departure of Chris Smalling to Roma in the next 10 days as both clubs discuss a deal, according to reports in Italy.
Smalling joined Roma on a season-long loan in August and has impressed during his stay in the Italian capital.
Roma boss Paulo Fonesca believes the 29-year-old can become a long-term member of his defence and wants to sew up a permanent transfer as soon as possible, according to Corriere dello Sport.
Club chiefs and Smalling’s agent met last Friday to discuss the possibility of a long-term arrangement and made their first offer to United on Wednesday.
That bid was said to be worth £8.6million (€10m) but United are after £15.5m (€18m).
There is a feeling from Giallorossi white-collars that a deal can be agreed in principle for £12.9m (€15m) in the next 10 days.
If an agreement is struck then Smalling’s contract terms at Roma would be improved.
Smalling decided to leave United after learning he would around half of United’s game this season, but ostensibly has every intention of returning to Old Trafford, where he is contracted until June 2022.
“I think I’ll be a better player when I go back to Manchester next May,” Smalling said in a recent interview with The Athletic.
The Englishman has thrown himself into the Roman culture, learning Italian and revamping his wardrobe to accommodate weather.
It is unclear whether Solskjaer sees the defender as an important squad player, though, with the Norwegian seemingly keener to offload Marcos Rojo and Phil Jones on similar loans in the summer just gone.
Including Smalling, United have seven centre-halves in their squad and Solskjaer is trying to balance out the squad in January transfer window.