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Arsenal make enquiry for £18m-rated Manchester United ace: report

Arsenal are understood to have enquired over the possibility of signing Chris Smalling from Manchester United during this summer’s transfer window.

The Gunners have experienced a mixed season in the Premier League but they recently managed to register three wins on the bounce prior to the league’s suspension due to the coronavirus threat.

The Premier League has been officially suspended until April 30 but there are no assurances that the season will resume thereafter, particularly with the growing health concerns across the world due to the COVID-19 virus.

Amidst this, it appears that the Gunners are already looking into their transfer plans for the summer and Corriere dello Sport, as cited by Sport Witness claims that the club have made a tentative approach for Smalling.

The England international, who is valued at £18m, as per Transfermarkt, has been linked with the Gunners over the past few years but a deal has not necessarily materialised for the transfer to go through.

Smalling is currently plying his trade for AS Roma on a season-long loan where he has caught the eye with an average of two interceptions and four clearances per league game (whoscored).

Roma are said to hold an interest in signing him on a permanent deal but it is reported that a return to the Premier League could be a ‘concrete option’ for the defender amid the COVID-19 outbreak.

The central defence has been a position of weakness for the Gunners over the years and the trend has been similar this season as the club have lost 13 points after taking the lead.

There has been a slight improvement under Mikel Arteta but it can’t be denied that the organisation from set-pieces has been average and goalkeeper Bernd Leno has had to come up with crucial saves.

Smalling is definitely good in the air with an average of nearly four aerials won this season but at the age of 30, the Englishman does not seem an attractive signing.

With Arteta, the Gunners are definitely looking to rebuild the squad for the long-term and purchasing Smalling could prove an average piece of business, given the defender may basically have a low resale value.

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