AS Roma and Manchester United are reported to have finally reached an agreement over the transfer of Chris Smalling, with the defender to join the club for an initial €15m (£13.6m) fee.
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Smalling was sent out to Serie A for the 2019/20 season after falling out of favour at Old Trafford, but quickly re-established himself as a top centre-back. The 30-year-old made clear his desire to stay in Rome, but when a deal initially could not be agreed, he returned to Manchester for pre-season training.
? This deal has been on/off in recent days by Roma have now reached an agreement with Man Utd to sign centre-back Chris Smalling. Fee is €15m + €5m in add-ons.
— David Ornstein (@David_Ornstein) October 5, 2020
? Details: https://t.co/lvj9uCI6Oc@TheAthleticUK #MUFC #ASRoma https://t.co/wgTrYuRoDU
He hasn't been used by Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, however, and negotiations have been ongoing over a return since the early part of the summer. At the final hour, it seems as if an agreement has finally been reached, with David Ornstein lifting the lid on a deal worth €20m (£18.2m) in total.
Smalling made 37 appearances for Roma last season and became a popular figure in the Italian capital. A number of sides, in England and Italy, were interested in his services, but it appears it's his former team who have now won the race.