United’s Smalling to join Roma on loan

Manchester United defender Chris Smalling is close to joining Roma on a season-long loan for a Sh340 million fee.

The 29-year-old visited United’s headquarters on Thursday to define his exit and is expected to fly to Italy in the evening to undergo a medical.

Talks between the two clubs started on Tuesday with United initially requesting Sh2.3 billion between a loan fee and option to buy, but eventually decided to opt for a one-year loan to avoid long bureaucratic matters that could have scuppered the move.

The defender was omitted from United’s squads for their first three Premier League fixtures, including their 4-0 win against Chelsea and their 1-2 defeat to Crystal Palace.

Roma are keen on bringing in an experienced centre-back after seeing efforts to land Tottenham’s Toby Alderweireld, Liverpool’s Dejan Lovren and Juventus’ Daniele Rugani failing to materialise this summer.

The Serie A giants have seen stalwart Kostas Manolas leave for Napoli for Sh4.1 billion this summer but need more cover after bringing in Italy Under-21 defender Gianluca Mancini from Atalanta for Sh2.3 billion.

Smalling is currently United’s longest-serving player following his Sh88o million move from Fulham in 2010 and was a regular following Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s interim appointment last December.

-Report by skysports