Football Daily pundit Joe Thomlinson has suggested that Wolverhampton Wanderers should sign Chris Smalling from Manchester United.
The English defender spent the 2019/20 season on loan with AS Roma and he bagged an impressive 7.00/10 average rating over 30 Serie A appearances (per WhoScored).
Supposedly, the Red Devils want £20m to see the 30-year-old defender leave Old Trafford permanently this summer with Inter Milan seemingly keen (per The Express).
However, in the latest episode of Football Daily’s Sunday Vibes show, Thomlinson suggested that the Old Gold should attempt to sign the defender.
He said: “I think Chris Smalling would be a great option for Wolves, I really do. He’s an okay defender, super athletic, not brilliant on the ball, but I actually don’t think you have to be brilliant on the ball at the back in this Wolves side.
“I think Conor Coady does all of their distribution, pretty much, and he’s fantastic at it. Obviously, he used to be a central midfielder and you can see why he’s worked so well. [Leander] Dendoncker does a lot of work in there as well.
“So, I think Chris Smalling would be a great player to sign for £15m if you’re Wolves and you can get him on a decent wage.
“I know that Inter Milan are quite keen to sign him at the moment, a lot of Italian clubs [are] sniffing about, but he’s decent depth.”
TIF Thoughts…
As can be seen in what the pundit had to say, he clearly believes that Smalling would be a good signing for Wolves this summer.
Would you be happy if Wolves signed Chris Smalling from Manchester United?
No, he's not good enough
Yes, he's a good player
Despite Thomlinson suggesting that he “would be a great player to sign for £15m” when it has been reported that Manchester United are after £20m, the defender’s average rating during the 2019/20 season does suggest he would be a good purchase.
Had Smalling earned the same 7.00/10 average rating for Wolves in the Premier League over the most recent season, then he would have been the Old Gold’s fifth-best performing player (per WhoScored).
However, a market value of £14.4m according to Transfermarkt would suggest that £20m is over the odds for the 30-year-old centre-back.