Everton and West Ham would be mad to pay Chris Smalling’s price-tag

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That dreadful 1-0 defeat at Newcastle United looks to be the final straw for Chris Smalling at Manchester United.

The England international centre-back endured a nightmare outing at St James’ Park and was very fortunate not to give away a first-half penalty for a needless lunging challenge that highlights a tendency for poor decision making that has never gone away.

The Mirror have stated that manager Jose Mourinho had run out of patience and was ready to cash in on Smalling after eight years at Old Trafford.

The Telegraph reported in June that both Everton and West Ham were keen on the one-time Fulham youngster and Ladbrokes has made the Premier League duo the first and second favourites to rescue him from Old Trafford in the summer.

This makes perfect sense. Everton are simply crying out for a centre-half right now. Ashley Williams has endured a nightmare season, Ramiro Funes-Mori is still injured, Eliaquim Mangala will surely not sign permanently while the Mirror claims that Michael Keane could be sold after just one season.

West Ham, meanwhile, are likely to have their need for defensive reinforcements heightened with Jose Fonte set to leave for China, per the Daily Record. There are doubts, too, about the future of veteran James Collins, with manager David Moyes typically building a side with a resilient defence.

According to the Daily Star, however, United will demand £25 million for Smalling this summer. The 31-cap England man has never come close to fulfilling his potential, however, and both Everton and West Ham would be mad to pay such a fee based on this season’s evidence.

There are cheaper, and far better, defenders out there.