Arsenal are set to make a £13 million bid for Manchester United defensive ace this summer as fears grow over losing two of their own stars.
Arsenal are ready to bid £13 million to sign Chris Smalling from Manchester United this summer, according to the Daily Star.
The versatile centre back, who is also capable of playing at right back, has long been a target of Arsene Wenger’s.
The wily French manager lost out to old rival Sir Alex Ferguson in the race to sign Smalling four years ago, but has not lost interest in the England international.
Smalling, who is 24 years of age, has failed to impress David Moyes at Man Utd this season in a mixed campaign, being photographed on a night out at 3am and dressing as a suicide bomber for a party, and a fresh start away from Old Trafford could do him well.
The Gunners have kept the second most clean sheets in the Premier League with 14 from their 35 matches, while Manchester United have kept 14 in 34 games, with Moyes looking to sign a centre back himself this summer.
Arsenal may well require a new defensive signing this summer, with question marks over the futures of Bacary Sagna – out of contract in the summer – and Thomas Vermaelen, who has struggled to break up the partnership of Laurent Koscielny and Per Mertesacker at the back ever since being dropped in March and fulfilling a supplementary role.
Smalling’s ability to fill in both Sagna’s and Vermaelen’s positions in the Gunners’ squad could come in very handy for Arsenal next season, as well as get his own career back on track.
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