Club’s manager claims he needs to buy Manchester United’s player

AS Roma boss Paulo Faunseca claims that he needs Chris Smalling at the club.

He told Sky Sports [via Fabrizio Romano}:

“I need Chris Smalling. It’s so important for me to bring him back, we’ve only 3 centre-backs so I want Smalling here”

Romano also understands that the deal between Manchester United and Roma is getting closer.

Last year, Smalling joined Roma on a season-long deal. He had a terrific season and was Roma’s defensive cornerstone. He made a total of 37 appearances before coming back to Old Trafford.

The management at Roma are so impressed with the value Smalling adds is that they wanted to submit a bid in November last year only.

There is so final confirmations about the deal right now but Roma have actively chased the English center-back. Yesterday, Fonseca told that they are working towards a deal and the player wants to join Roma permanently too.

After Smalling departs, United will desperately need a center-back. The Red Devils have Kalidou Koulibaly and Dayot Upamecano as their transfer targets. However, Koulibaly is very close to signing a deal with Manchester City and Upamecano is set to stay at Leipzig after signing a contract extension.