West Bromwich Albion are reportedly keen on bringing Manchester United defender Chris Smalling to The Hawthorns this summer.
Manchester United’s Chris Smalling in action
According to a recent report in The Sun, West Bromwich Albion are keen on bringing Manchester United defender Chris Smalling to the club this summer, as they look to bolster their defensive options.
The England defender, who was Manchester United’s vice captain under Louis van Gaal, is apparently no longer in Jose Mourinho’s plans at Old Trafford, with the manager keen to offload a centre-half who has fallen considerably down the United pecking order.
England’s Chris Smalling
But Tony Pulis is keen to offer Chris Smalling a chance to become a key player once again, at West Bromwich Albion. in 2015, West Brom signed another Manchester United defender, Jonny Evans, who has gone on to become one of the most highly rated Premier League centre-halves outside of the top six sides.
If reunited with his old team mate, could the same thing happen for Chris Smalling, should he join West Bromwich Albion? It’s only been over the course of the last year that Smalling’s stock at Manchester United has appeared to drop, and perhaps a move to a smaller club might be exactly what his career currently needs.
They even partnered each other in the centre of defence the last time Manchester United won the title, in 2013, even if that was as part of a defence rotated by Sir Alex Ferguson.
Manchester United’s Chris Smalling scores against Leicester City
Tony Pulis has already been putting plans into motion for next season, and is flying out to China soon to meet with the club’s new ownership to discuss funds for transfers. The Baggies have achieved a high finish this season, and could well have been grasping for a European place had they started the season better.
And with the signature of Smalling, Tony Pulis could be taking the first step towards achieving something huge with this West Bromwich Albion side. A tried and tested partnership, Evans and Smalling would give the Baggies one of the most formidable centre-half pairings in the Premier League.
Manchester United’s Chris Smalling in action with Fenerbahce’s Robin van Persie
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