£90,000-A-Week World Cup Defender Was CLOSE TO Arsenal Move

Arsenal have been reported to have the hots for Manchester United defender, Chris Smalling as they were reportedly after him five years ago and were even more bent on bringing him to the Emirates when United’s manager, Louis Van Gaal took over at Old Trafford in 2014 reported the London Evening Standard.

Chris Smalling who has impressed and improved with each season since joining the Red Devils from Premiership side Fulham has done so well for United this season that he is undoubtedly the best defender United have at the moment and it does not look like this spell will be over anytime soon.

United reportedly offered Fulham £10 million back in 2010 and Arsenal, in their typical Wenger-spending format offered a bid that was way less than that so it was just easy for Fulham to allow the player move to Old Trafford instead of the Emirates and for the player jimself to feel more valued at Old Trafford.

Wenger reportedly made enquiries about the England international again in the summer of 2014 when Van Gaal joined Manchester United and so many players did not know what will be their fate. But Smalling decided to stay at Manchester United and try his best to break into the first team. This he found easy after the departure of Nemanja Vidic and Rio Ferdinand and he has now become the first name on the defenders sheet.

Chris Smalling has since the start of the season been the best defender at the back for United and has performed better than any other defender even with the fact that his partner at the back right now, Daley Blind is a natural left-back or midfielder. Yet, Smalling has made sure that he does his own job well and covers up for Blind when needed to.

The 25-year-old defender has helped United to four clean sheets in their seven league games so far this season and could help United make it five clean sheets on Sunday when they face Arsenal.

It is obvious that Smalling has been instrumental to a number of United’s wins this season and could also be the difference for the Red Devils against Arsenal on Sunday and if this happens, I’m sure Wenger must be ruing why he did not pursue him enough when he should have.