Roma remain well short of Manchester United’s asking price for central defender Chris Smalling.
Smalling enjoyed a successful loan spell in Italy last season and the Serie A side’s desire to keep the England defender on a permanent basis has been well documented.
The 30-year-old has not yet been reintegrated back into Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s United squad, despite suggestions he is more adept defensively than the much-maligned Victor Lindelof in the wake of the humbling opening day home defeat to Crystal Palace.
There is an expectation that Smalling will leave Old Trafford to continue to pursue first-team football this summer, but there is no indication that a transfer is any closer with just two weeks of the transfer window remaining.
The Athletic report that Roma have issued an offer of around £12m for Smalling, but United are holding out for closer to £20m for their experienced defender.
It is unclear whether a compromise will be made between the two clubs for a deal to be agreed but there remains a chance Smalling could yet return to the United fold.
Meanwhile, rather worrying, the same Athletic report notes that United are not prioritising the signing of a centre-back in the remaining days of the transfer window.
United have spent most of the summer exhausting all avenues in their Jadon Sancho pursuit but the glaring requirement for a new central defender was highlighted once again against Palace.
But it is claimed that United have identified other positions that are of more immediate concern as they look to bolster Solskjaer’s squad before the October 5 deadline.
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