Manchester United reportedly told Everton that they wanted £30 million for Chris Smalling.
According to the Daily Mirror's live transfer blog (8/8; 12:26 pm), Everton were left stunned when Manchester United rejected their loan bid for Chris Smalling and insisted that they would only consider selling him permanently for £30 million this summer.
Smalling is one of the centre-backs whose futures appear to be up in the air at Old Trafford, with the Mirror reporting that Phil Jones and Marcos Rojo are also available heading into the final hours of the transfer window.
The Daily Mirror has reported on its transfer blog (8/8; 12:26 pm) that the Toffees offered to take Smalling on a season-long loan deal as Marco Silva looks for a replacement for Kurt Zouma.
However, they were reportedly taken aback when United told Everton that they are only willing to let him go if a club offers £30 million for a permanent move.
It is little surprise that Everton appear to have backed away from pursuing the former Fulham man after hearing his reported asking price. Smalling has been a good servant since joining Ole Gunnar Solskjaer's men, but his form has been criticised at times.
A loan deal could have perhaps proved to be another inspired move after the success that Zouma enjoyed. But Everton have surely made the right decision stepping away with United demanding such a significant fee for the Englishman.
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