Steve Nicol has tipped Arsenal to land Chris Smalling from Manchester United this summer.
The defender has fallen further down the pecking order at Old Trafford this week following the arrival of Victor Lindelof from Benfica for £30.7 Million, and is now tipped to head to the exit door.
Smalling is linked with a move to Arsenal, West Ham or Tottenham currently, while the Gunners are believed to have missed out on his signature previously.
Smalling left Fulham to join the Red Devils, and is believed to have chosen United over a move to the Emirates, but he may now find himself making that move this season.
Steve Nicol, a former Liverpool defender, has claimed that he believed he will move to North-London, but that fans may not be too happy with the decision.
Nicol said: “If I am an Arsenal fan, I’d be asking, are we a place for Manchester United’s cast offs?
“Let’s be honest, that’s not to be harsh on Smalling and Welbeck, it’s just a fact.
“I see this happening because Arsenal need centre-halves. They have injury problems. I think Smalling will end up at Arsenal.”
Smalling has been a regular in the United side since joining from West London, but has been up-and-down in people’s judgements, and he now seems to have fallen out of favour with United boss Jose Mourinho.
Since the Portuguese tactician took over last summer, he has spent £60+ Million on a new centre-back pairing of Eric Bailly and Lindelof, while Daley Blind, Marcos Rojo and Phil Jones also find themselves hoping to play in a central role next term.
Smalling most certainly looks set to leave his club, but is he good enough to be a first-team regular? Is he better than Holding, Mustafi, Gabriel or Chambers?
Pat J