According to reports from the Brentwood Gazette, West Ham are set to launch a shock £20million transfer bid for Manchester United defender Chris Smalling.
The 26-year-old has emerged as one of the first names on the team-sheet under Louis van Gaal, regularly captaining the Red Devils in the absence of club skipper Wayne Rooney, and looks set to feature heavily for England at the coming European Championship in France.
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Nonetheless, Brentwood Gazette claim West Ham have identified the 6 foot 3 centre-half as their ‘ideal defensive target’ ahead of the summer transfer window – when the East London club are expected to use the incentive of European football and their historic move to the Olympic Stadium to attract a higher calibre of player.
United remain unlikely to part with the leader and lynchpin of their backline, that has conceded the second-fewest goals of any Premier League defence this season, but West Ham are preparing to test their resolve with a £20million transfer bid.