The Chronicle‘s Lee Ryder has recently reported that Newcastle United have been offered a chance to sign Chris Smalling after AS Roma decided not to land him permanently for £20m from Manchester United this summer. It is understood that the English centre-back is unlikely to remain at Old Trafford beyond this summer as he will be low in Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s pecking order even though he has a good relationship with the Man United boss. His current situation at Manchester could open the door for the Magpies among other top-flight clubs to recruit the player during this summer transfer period (via The Chronicle).
Smalling’s Impressive Loan Spell At Rome Last Season
The 31-time England international enjoyed a solid loan spell with AS Roma last season after putting in a series of commanding performances as an integral member of Paulo Fonseca’s defence. He made 37 appearances for Barca in the previous campaign, registering three goals and two assists in all competitions.
More importantly, Smalling had a stellar season defensively as he averaged 0.9 tackles, 1.9 interceptions and 3.9 clearances per game in La Liga and the UEFA Europa League. He even managed to distribute the ball well as evident from his pass success rate of 90.5% in the Italian top-flight last season (stats via whoscored). The 30-year-old has proven his worth as a decent ball-playing defender over the past 12 months. He is also becoming a dominant figure at the centre of the defence when he is playing with confidence on the field.
However, the financial crisis brought about by the COVID-19 pandemic makes him a risky signing for any top club including the Magpies as he is currently on a £130,000 per week contract at the Theatre of Dreams. Even if Smalling decides to lower his wage demands, Man United’s £20m price-tag seems a bit steep considering how the player has struggled to prove his worth in the Premier League so far.
What Are The English Centre-Half’s Best Attributes?
Smalling can overpower the opposition by using his upper-body strength and determination to win the ball for his side. He is a dominant presence at the back but lacks the pace to make recovering runs which can sometimes make him a liability when his team is trying to maintain a high line in defence.
The English defensive ace has proven himself to be a capable performer while on loan at the Italian capital as he can pull off some crucial last-gasp clearances inside his half. Smalling is not afraid to put his strong frame on the line when attempting to block a goal-bound attempt from the opposition.
Should Steve Bruce Launch A Move For Smalling This Summer?
At the moment, Newcastle boss Steve Bruce can benefit from recruiting a new centre-back to bolster his defence ahead of the new campaign. Jamaal Lascelles, Federico Fernandez, Fabian Schär and Florian Lejeune have all done well for the Magpies in recent times. However, Smalling could turn out to be an upgrade over them as he is proficient at playing the ball out from the back.
However, Smalling won’t be a long-term option for the Tyneside giants as he only has a few years remaining in his locker to play at a high level. Even then, Newcastle should consider launching a move to sign the English defender this summer.
