West Ham United are interested in Manchester United defender Chris Smalling according to reports this morning.
Newly appointed West Ham boss Manuel Pellegrini has been reportedly handed £70 million to bolster a squad that flirted with relegation for the majority of last season, only to eventually finish up in a respectable 12th place.
Despite steering the club clear of relegation, former Everton boss David Moyes was relieved of his duties and replaced by Premier League title winner Manuel Pellegrini.
West Ham are close to signing Lazio midfielder Felipe Anderson according to the latest reports, but the Metro are reporting that the Hammers are also keeping an eye on Chris Smalling’s situation at Manchester United.
United are known to be interested in signing a new centre-back this summer, with Spurs’ Toby Alderweireld, Sevilla’s Clement Lenglet and Bayern Munich’s Jerome Boateng all having been linked in the last week alone.
However, the Red Devils already have a number of central defenders battling for a place in the starting XI, including Eric Bailly, Phil Jones, Victor Lindelof, Marcos Rojo and Daley Blind.
If United do sign a new centre-back as planned, that could mean United decide to cash in on the former Fulham defender, and West Ham would be interested in his services were that situation come to fruition.