Tottenham are reportedly considering bringing former Manchester United defender Chris Smalling back to the Premier League when his contract expires in June, a player Jose Mourinho believes should have been in England’s World Cup squad.
London-born Smalling, 33, has performed admirably for Roma since joining the club on loan in 2019. In three and a half seasons, he has played 117 times in all competitions. Roma has kept 34 clean sheets in that time.
Smalling has ten goals and assisted Roma in winning the Europa Conference League, their first European title. However, the long-term future of the defender is now in doubt. His £83,000-a-week contract is set to expire in June 2023.
If Roma does not agree on a new contract with the player before January 1, clubs outside Italy can pursue a deal. There is a performance-based option in his contract. CMW If Roma does not sign a new contract before January 1, non-Italian clubs can pursue a deal.
CMW reported over the weekend that Spurs are interested in signing the former AS Roma defender on a free transfer. The report says that Antonio Conte ‘doesn’t stop thinking’ about the player and that Smalling is ‘one of Conte’s very first choices’ to shape Spurs’ long-term defense.
Former Spurs manager Jose Mourinho believes he is ‘perfect to play in a three-man‘ which is the system Antonio Conte plays.
“He was taught to play in a two-man defence, but now he’s perfect to play in a three-man backline. If I were the coach of a national team, I would do anything to have someone like him at my disposal.”
Smalling would be a great addition to the Spurs’ defense but he will not be the marquee signing that Spurs fans will be expecting. They would still expect their club to go for a player of Bastoni or de Vrij’s quality to improve their defense.
