Arsenal are reportedly interested in Manchester United duo Jonny Evans and Chris Smalling.
According to the Daily Mail, Arsenal have held internal discussions over the possibility of bidding for Manchester United duo Jonny Evans and Chris Smalling this summer.
The Gunners travel to Old Trafford tonight in order to face United in the quarter-finals of the FA Cup, but the game doesn’t hold the same rivalry as it did in the late 1990’s and early 2000’s.
In fact, United allowed striker Danny Welbeck – pictured above alongside Evans and Smalling – to move to the Emirates Stadium back in September, and Arsene Wenger’s men appear to be hopeful of another deal.
The Daily Mail report that even after signing Villarreal’s Gabriel Paulista in January, Wenger still wants to add at least one more centre back, and is considering Austrian international Aleksandar Dragovic – as well as Evans and Smalling, with reported ‘discussions’ over the United pair.
Neither player has really excelled under Louis van Gaal this season, and could feasibly be available should United manage to land a world-class centre back this summer.
Evans, 27, has had a poor season is currently caught up in a row over spitting at Newcastle striker Papiss Cisse, and the Northern Ireland international should be the easiest to attain of the pair.
Meanwhile, Smalling has shown some signs of promise this season, and United may well want to keep hold of him in a bid to try and develop him a little more.
Strengthening a rival won’t be on United’s to-do list this summer, but if an offer does come in, it wouldn’t be a surprise to see them sell either Evans or Smalling – the only shock is that it could come from Arsenal.
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