Newcastle are amongst four Premier League clubs who will battle to sign Manchester United defender Chris Smalling this summer.
Smalling has been strongly linked with a move away from Old Trafford this season following a poor run of form that has reportedly convinced manager Jose Mourinho that he needs to restructure his defensive line in the next transfer window.
It is unknown if Rafa Benitez has any interest in bringing Smalling to St James’ Park this summer with the defender expected to command a £25 million fee and the Magpies listed at 2/1 to obtain his signature.
Benitez may consider that to be an inflated value on the basis of Smalling’s poor performance in Newcastle’s 1-0 victory over Man United a fornight ago, with the England international’s blatant dive in the second half conceding the free kick that resulted in Matt Ritchie’s winning goal.
However, with captain Jamaal Lascelles linked with a £50m move to Chelsea this morning, it’s not out of the realms of possibility that, as a contingency plan, Benitez is drawing up a list of defensive targets featuring Smalling as a potential replacement.
