Chris Smalling would only leave Manchester United for a club offering Champions League football – and Everton will hope to offer that next season.
The protracted signing of Victor Lindelof could push Chris Smalling out of Manchester United.
The England international, viewed as a long-term replacement for Rio Ferdinand when he joined from Fulham in 2010, has failed to hold down a regular place at Old Trafford thanks to fluctuating form and fitness.
According to The Sun, Smalling hopes to remain at Manchester United next season but, with Lindelof, Eric Bailly and Marcos Rojo all ahead of him in the pecking order, a departure may be necessary with a World Cup on the horizon.
Chris Smalling needs regular football after losing his England starting berth
Yet, the report adds that Smalling would only consider clubs in the Champions League if he accepts that his future lies elsewhere. And it’s fair to say the prospect of the 27-year-old being on the radar of Manchester City, Chelsea, Tottenham or arch-rivals Liverpool is particularly unlikely.
Though Smalling would surely be better off starting for Everton than warming the bench at United. According to The Telegraph, The Toffees, who finished seventh last season to confirm their status as ‘best of the rest’, are battling West Ham and West Brom for his £15 million-rated signature.
One thing in common
Everton will be playing continental football next season having qualified for the Europa League, a competition Smalling won last season. But the defender’s desire to play in Europe’s premiere club competition could prevent him from giving a move to Goodison Park the thought it deserves.
Everton, after all, are a club on the up. They’ve spent almost £100 million already this summer on just five players and, thanks to majority shareholder Farhad Moshiri, have the funds to challenge the established order.
Furthermore, manager Ronald Koeman has made clear on countless occasions that breaking into the Champions League for the first time since 2005, where they lost out against Villarreal in the play-offs, is Everton’s primary ambition.
Their aggressive and decisive approach to the transfer market suggests that they could indeed challenge for a top four place next season. Perhaps Smalling should back this dark horse.
He wants Champions League football and, given time, Everton could provide it.
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