Chris Smalling was under a lot of criticism in the last season from Manchester United’s new coach Jose Mourinho, who accused the English centre back of showing a lack of commitment in the games throughout the season. This has reportedly irked the possibility of the defender making a move away from Old Trafford in the next season.
Speculations are rife that Tottenham might be interested in making a bid for the England international, who might not be in the plans of his current club for the next season. Manchester United have already made their first major signing of the summer in the form of Victor Lindelof, the centre back from Portuguese Primeira Liga champions Benfica, and that has put the future of the English ace in further jeopardy at Old Trafford.
Tottenham will be facing Champions League football in the next season as well and are in dire need of a top class defender who can replace the regular centre backs of the team, Jon Vertonghen and Toby Alderweirald, in case there is a requirement to rest any of them.
The Spurs have also been trying to get their hands on the Hull City defender Harry Maguire but had to shun their interest as he wanted to join the former Premier League Champions Leicester City in the next season.
The English centre-back was at the top of his game in the season before the previous one and did a great job for the Red Devils by holding their defence together consistently under the coaching of Louis Van Gaal. However, an injury prone season last term saw Smalling miss a number of matches, as he failed to satisfy Mourinho at the heart of the Manchester United defence on his return to the starting XI.
Now that Lindelof is here, the 27 year old is in danger of being left out of the Manchester United side and regarded as surplus to the team. The centre-back has a contract with the Red Devils which sees him stay back at Old Trafford till 2019, but might be offloaded in the next summer transfer window.
As reports suggest, a number of clubs have been looking to sign the out-of-favour defender in the next season, including the likes of West Ham United and Everton, who are looking to bring in a top class defender to strengthen their backline. Arsenal are also in line to lure the English centre back into their side for the next season. So is he right man for the Spurs?
