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Manchester United 'to reduce Chris Smalling fee if Kalidou Koulibaly signs'

By Barney Corkhill, Editor | 25 March 2020

Man Utd 'to reduce Smalling fee if Koulibaly signs'

Manchester United will reportedly consider lowering their asking price for Roma target Chris Smalling if they are able to secure the signature of Kalidou Koulibaly.

Manchester United will reportedly reduce their asking price for Chris Smalling this summer if they are able to secure the signature of Kalidou Koulibaly beforehand.

Smalling is currently on loan at Roma, where he has made 28 appearances across all competitions, scoring two goals.

Roma are understood to have been suitably impressed by the 30-year-old's performances and are interested in making his loan deal permanent at the end of the campaign, but United's £25m asking price is proving to be a sticking point in negotiations.

However, the capital outfit could be aided in their pursuit by a Serie A rival should Napoli allow Koulibaly to join Man United, who have held a long-standing interest in the centre-back.

Napoli reportedly rejected a €100m (£91m) bid for Koulibaly from United last summer but could be more receptive to another approach now following a fallout between a number of players and the club's owner Aurelio De Laurentiis earlier this season.

La Gazzetta dello Sport claims that Man United could lower their asking price for Smalling if they are able to strike a deal for Koulibaly.

Smalling, meanwhile, is reportedly willing to take a pay cut in order to join Roma on a permanent basis, although any deal could depend on whether the Giallorossi qualify for next season's Champions League.