West Ham Could Sign Manchester United’s Chris Smalling

STOCKHOLM, SWEDEN - MAY 24: Henrikh Mkhitaryan of Manchester United celebrates scoring his sides second goal with Chris Smalling of Manchester United and Paul Pogba of Manchester United during the UEFA Europa League Final between Ajax and Manchester United at Friends Arena on May 24, 2017 in Stockholm, Sweden. (Photo by Julian Finney/Getty Images)
STOCKHOLM, SWEDEN - MAY 24: Henrikh Mkhitaryan of Manchester United celebrates scoring his sides second goal with Chris Smalling of Manchester United and Paul Pogba of Manchester United during the UEFA Europa League Final between Ajax and Manchester United at Friends Arena on May 24, 2017 in Stockholm, Sweden. (Photo by Julian Finney/Getty Images) /
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Jose Mourinho has apparently tired of Chris Smalling and is prepared to sell the defender at a cut price this summer. West Ham should be interested.

Chris Smalling is a good defender.  If West Ham can sign Chris Smalling for a cut price this summer then they should absolutely push the deal through.  Mourinho’s firebrand style of management appeared to alienate the once highly prized Smalling when Mourinho criticized his toughness this season.

Chris Smalling is a talented international level footballer.  This is a case of mismanagement by Mourinho who miscalculated the personality of his at-the-time leading central defender.  The Hammers can make a lot of progress as a team if they add Smalling to the porous central defensive rankings.   At 27 and from Greenwich it could be seen as a perfect time for Smalling to make a return to London and the football club nearest his place of birth.

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The Benefits Are Obvious

Smelling stands at a towering 6’4” and he could truly help West Ham’s defense move to the next level. He’s excellent in the air and good on the ground with the ball at his feet.  The mistakes that he is often punished for seem to be born more from an uncomfortable mental situation with management than lack of concentration.  His commitment is sound but fearing that his manager will chastise him for any mistake he makes PUBLICLY has had an affect on him.  Smelling deserves out and I truly believe he’ll reclaim the form that got Manchester United to pay 12 million to Fulham for him in 2010.

If the board can steal Smalling from Manchester United for anything under 25 million pounds then it is the sort of move they should make without hesitation.  He has 30 caps for England and lots of experience at the top level.

Next: Hammers chasing TWO United players

West Ham at the moment are actually at the precipice of what can be an excellent moment for the club.  They’ve found some young homegrown talent who seem to have limitless potential and complemented it with some stellar foreign talent as well.  What is necessary now is to add the right building blocks.  To have come out of this past season with as much potential as they still have is nothing short of a success.  Adding experienced and yet still youthful players like Smalling would be a move in the right direction for West Ham.