Transfer News

Timo Werner has said he is undecided about whether he would be better off joining a club like Manchester City, Liverpool or Manchester United, or remaining with RB Leipzig and making "something great." 

The Germany international joined Leipzig from Stuttgart in 2016, and he has established himself as one of Europe's premier marksmen with 71 goals in 118 league appearances for the club.

This season the 24-year-old has 21 goals in 25 appearances in the German top flight—only Bayern Munich's Robert Lewandowski has more with 25—and Leipzig remain in the race for the Bundesliga title:

Bayern take a four-point lead at the top ☝️ #BundesligaMD25 pic.twitter.com/jPi1bC1hEM

— Bundesliga English (@Bundesliga_EN) March 8, 2020

Julian Nagelsmann's side are also on the verge of reaching a first-ever UEFA Champions League quarter-final.

They are 1-0 ahead in their last-16 tie against Tottenham Hotspur, with the second leg taking place on Tuesday at the Red Bull Arena:

Leipzig vs Spurs is on - and fans are allowed in. Official. https://t.co/NkkOpRVNfI

— Raphael Honigstein💙 (@honigstein) March 9, 2020

Speaking ahead of the Spurs clash, Werner weighed up the various options available to him in the future, per Lyall Thomas of Sky Sports:

"At this time in professional soccer there are two different variations. The first is to be part of a team like Liverpool or Manchester City. They have a good working team. The teams have also great coaches. But this is the question: Do you want to go to that kind of team, because the situation is already that hard for each member and you want to be a part of it? That's one point you have to look at.

"The other side are teams which need some big changes, because they just won a few big titles, but they are not able to compete on the highest level anymore. For me Manchester United is one of these teams. So at this point of my career I'm asking myself: Do I want to be part of a new team, to build up something new or do I want to stay at my team and make something great?"

Werner is a guaranteed starter when fit at Leipzig, but that would not be the case were he to move to City or Liverpool, where he would have to compete with the likes of Sergio Aguero and Roberto Firmino.

At United, however, he would potentially slot straight into the No. 9 role.

The Red Devils do not have a traditional centre-forward in their squad after selling Romelu Lukaku to Inter Milan last summer.

Marcus Rashford and Anthony Martial have stepped up their goalscoring output this season to make up the shortfall, and United are on a 10-game unbeaten run in all competitions.

Overall this term, though, they have lacked goals. After scoring 44 times in the first 29 games of the 2019-20 Premier League, United would finish the season with 57 goals for the campaign if they kept up this rate.

Only twice in the Premier League era have they failed get past the 60-goal mark.

If United are to make genuine strides next season towards becoming title challengers again, a new striker will be a necessary addition in the summer:

https://twitter.com/DanielHarris/status/1235865894913368066

Werner would be an ideal signing due to his relative youth and impressive goalscoring output. And he could be a bargain despite his contract with Leipzig running to 2023. 

According to German outlet Sport1 (h/t Rich Jones of the Mirror), his release clause is set at €30 million (£26 million), significantly less than the figure reported elsewhere of between £50 million and £55 million.

Manchester United boss Ole Gunnar Solskjaer said his team are still several signings away from becoming Premier League title challengers after they beat Manchester City 2-0 at Old Trafford on Sunday.

Following the Red Devils' 2-1 win over City at the Etihad Stadium in December, Sunday's victory marked the first time since the 2009-10 season at United have beaten their local rivals home and away in the same campaign.

Per ESPN FC's Rob Dawson, Solskjaer said:

"We feel we are improving all the time. We know we lack one, two, three players to be considered a title contender and some experience and we know that.

"We are just going to start talking about going up the table, getting more points.

"Chelsea and Leicester are too far ahead for my liking."

Anthony Martial gave United the lead after half an hour when he volleyed Bruno Fernandes' scooped free-kick past Ederson at his near post.

Scott McTominay wrapped up the victory deep into injury time with a 40-yard strike into an open goal after a poor throw from Ederson:

Although the Red Devils benefited from poor goalkeeping from the Brazilian for their goals, Samuel Luckhurst of the Manchester Evening News hailed their all-around performance in the contest:

That was #mufc's best performance under Solskjaer. Tactically superb throughout and key selections were vindicated. Some outstanding individual performances.

— Samuel Luckhurst (@samuelluckhurst) March 8, 2020

In all competitions, it is the third time United have beaten City this season in four meetings.

The match continued Fernandes' fine start to life at Old Trafford since he joined from Sporting CP in January. In seven starts for his new side, he has returned three goals and three assists in all competitions.

He has played a large part in the Red Devils' impressive recent form:

Man Utd’s last 10 games across all competitions:

7 wins
3 draws
0 defeats

24 scored
2 conceded

Not bad. 👀👀👀 pic.twitter.com/z7CGKcfgsT

— Statman Dave (@StatmanDave) March 8, 2020

As well as their three wins against City, United have also beaten Chelsea three times in all competitions, Tottenham Hotspur and Leicester City in their only meetings and were the only side to avoid defeat to Liverpool in the Reds' first 27 league games of the season.

They haven't been able to produce such performances consistently, though. They have yet to win three league matches in a row this season and have won just 12 of their 29 games.

Fernandes' arrival has given the team a significant lift, but they still need more attacking firepower after letting Romelu Lukaku and Alexis Sanchez leave for Inter Milan last summer.

Alexis will return at the end of the season because he is only on loan, but the Chilean hasn't done much to suggest he's back at the level he reached at Arsenal, for whom he racked up 80 goals and 45 assists in 166 appearances.

He's missed a significant portion of the season through injury. In the 15 appearances he has made, of which seven have been starts, he has scored once and provided three assists.

Another midfielder is also needed after Ander Herrera and Marouane Fellaini left in 2019 without being replaced, particularly with Paul Pogba's future up in the air.

The Frenchman, who has played just eight times this season because of injury, will have just one year left on his contract this summer, though the club does have an option to extend the deal by a further year. As such, the Red Devils may need to sell him to recoup the £89 million they spent on him in 2016.

You might not have heard of him yet, but Musa Al-Tamari is grabbing the attention of scouts from leading clubs all across Europe.

Plying his trade with Cypriot champions APOEL, the 22-year-old wide forward has been dubbed the "Jordanian Messi." And he's destined for a big move this summer.

In late 2018, he was being linked with Cagliari and Fiorentina—but bigger clubs now have him on the radar, with Manchester City, Liverpool, Borussia Dortmund, Atalanta and Lille all taking a look this season, according to Bleacher Report sources.

He's been playing in Europe for two seasons and quickly became a fan favourite in Cyprus.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pKAPQNBrb6M

His transfer in May 2018, after time on loan with Amman's Al-Jazeera Club, is regarded the biggest made by a Jordanian player. It took just a matter of weeks for APOEL fans to take to their new hero from the Middle East.

His chant, to the tune of "La Bamba", quickly caught on:

"We've got an Al Tamari.

"He's so much better than Harry and Dele Alli

"The Jordanian Messi!"

Tommy Oar played and trained alongside Al-Taamari in those opening months at APOEL and told Vince Rugari of The Sydney Morning Herald:

"He looks very unassuming, but...when we were playing in the Champions League and Europa League qualifiers before I came home, he was tearing teams apart.

"It's only a matter of time until a big team snaps him up. There's already, every week a new team that's going to sign him."

Al-Tamari was crowned the Cypriot First Division's MVP in his first season, and his playing style turned heads.

Gongratulations to #mousa-al Tamari @apoelfcofficial for winning the MVP title 2019.#FromPlayersForPlayers #PASPawards pic.twitter.com/9yVKMlRJ4U

— Spyros Neofytides (@SNeofytides) May 17, 2019

Jordanian football expert Mohammad Elidy has followed his career closely and told B/R: "There are a huge expectations from Jordanians for him—especially after that marvellous first season with APOEL. He became the best player in the country before reaching 21 years old—and also without playing for the two best clubs in the country, Al-Faisaly and Al-Wehdat.

"Despite a great interest from them, he—unlike other Jordanian players—refused them and refused Gulf money. He waited for Europe. The mentality, his desire to play at bigger clubs like APOEL and his self-confidence is what made reach this level.

"Yes, he's labeled as a Jordanian Messi."

There are some traits that are comparable to those of the Barcelona captain.

He dribbles with the ball close to him and uses swerving body movements to trick defenders into going the wrong way. He can score great goals too.

But most people who watch him say a better comparison might be Bayern Munich legend Arjen Robben.

Elidy explains: "I think he is much like Robben. He has a lot of pace, is very skilful from the wing and can score gorgeous curved goals.

"It's not common to see a Jordanian player go from Jordan to Europe and succeed in the way Al-Tamari has."

Ahmad Mallah is a Jordanian journalist closely tracking Al-Tamari's career. 

"He gives the impression of someone who is more mature in terms of football decisions on field and has an explosive acceleration that helps him go through defences," Mallah told B/R. "He has benefited from joining a European club at a relative early age.

"He is called Jordanian Messi by fans, and this may be down to his dribbling and fast decision-making when in possession of the ball—he is considered the best Jordanian player at the moment."

This season, Al-Tamari's stats have not quite mirrored those of the previous year, when he scored nine times. However, his assist count has risen to nine and counting from one last term, and his tricky style of play is very much still impressing admirers.

He has played 32 times for his country, scoring seven times. Jordan has never had a global football superstar, and there is hope he will make that breakthrough.

"He has a huge following in his country, and everyone wishes to see him wearing the shirt of a bigger European club," Mallah says.

"They are looking for him to be an ambassador of the country—and to do for Jordan what Mo Salah did for Egypt."

Listen to Dean on the B/R Football Ranks podcast. New episodes every Wednesday. Subscribe here.

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Athletic Bilbao director Rafa Alkorta has dismissed speculation Juventus forward Gonzalo Higuain could join the club as a free agent this summer, saying the Argentinian doesn't meet their strict Basque-only policy.

Marca's Juanma Velasco reported Athletic could be shock suitors for the striker in the summer, noting he has Basque ancestry on his father's side. 

Alkorta quickly dismissed those reports in an interview with Onda Cero (h/t Football Italia), however: "In order to sign for us, you must've been either born or formed as a player here. If you do not fit these rules, then it doesn't count. I don't know if one day those rules could be modified, but right now, that is what they are."

Higuain will also not be a free agent this summer―his current contract runs until 2021.

Athletic are the last remaining team in La Liga who have a Basque-only policy, meaning they only sign players who were born in the Basque Country or were trained at a Basque club.

They have bent their rules at times to sign the likes of Aymeric Laporte, but most of the time they adhere to them strictly:

Higuain was born in the French city of Brest, which lies well north of the French Basque Country. His father revealed the links to the region 15 years ago, per Velasco: "My grandfather was of Basque-French origin. My father always told me that my grandfather had taught him that the Basques are neither Spanish nor French, only Basque."

The 32-year-old Higuain is in his second spell with Juventus, returning to the club in the summer after loan stints with AC Milan and Chelsea.

He has been in and out of the team throughout the 2019-20 campaign, with manager Maurizio Sarri continuing to tinker with his formations and starting XI.

Higuain has scored five goals during the Serie A campaign, including this pivotal strike against Inter:

His play has regressed as the season has worn on, however, with just one goal since the turn of the year. Sarry has mostly relied on the duo of Cristiano Ronaldo and Paulo Dybala up front.

A summer move is a possibility, although Juventus have limited depth in the attacking third and no prospects ready to step into the first team. With one year remaining on his contract, a minimal fee might be enough to convince the Bianconeri to sell if they can find a solid replacement.

Borussia Dortmund are reportedly set to beat Manchester United to the signature of Birmingham City youngster Jude Bellingham. 

According to ESPN's Stephan Uersfeld, the 16-year-old has long been a source of interest for the Bundesliga outfit, whose training facilities he recently made a visit to, and he has also been linked with the likes of United and Bayern Munich.

Sport Bild (h/t Bundesliga writer Manuel Veth) reported details of his proposed move to BVB:

#BVB are on the verge of signing Birmingham City midfielder Jude Bellingham. The club and the player have agreed terms and Dortmund are expected to pay €35m for the 16-year-old (Sport Bild) #BCFC

— Manuel Veth (@ManuelVeth) March 4, 2020

Dortmund's current record signing is Mats Hummels, whom they re-signed from Bayern last summer for a reported €30.5 million (£26.7 million).

According to Uersfeld, Dortmund are likely to sign him in a similar manner to the way they landed Jadon Sancho from Manchester City in 2018, when they are believed to have paid a training compensation fee of €7 million (£6.1 million).

Uersfeld added that while compensation for Bellingham is likely to exceed the payment for Sancho, it won't be as high as €35 million (£30.6 million).

Constantin Eckner of football analytics company Spielverlagerung believes he'd still be worth it if it was:

If Borussia Dortmund sign Jude Bellingham, that would be a tremendous move, even for a fee of 35m. He is a incredibly talented winger now, but could easily end up in central midfield down the road if he continues to develop the way he did this past year. #BVB

— Dr. Constantin Eckner (@cc_eckner) March 4, 2020

Wednesday's FA Cup clash with Leicester City would have provided a good opportunity to see how he fared against Premier League opposition, but manager Pep Clotet is set to rest him, per TalkSport's Tom Ross:

Blues boss Pep Clotet is leaving out Jude Bellingham for game at Leicester - says Jude has played over 30 games and is fatigued and needs a rest ahead of Saturday - says he has a responsibility to look after young players. #BCFC

— Tom Ross (@thegoalzone) March 3, 2020

Clotet is a huge admirer of his young charge, though. Clotet said in October: "He can go forward as well, he can defend, he is very complete and despite being only 16 he handles the physicality of the midfield very well."

The teenager has split his time this season between both flanks and central midfield, scoring four goals and assisting three in 34 games in all competitions.

He's made 31 of those appearances in the Championship, starting 24 of them. 

Per WhoScored.com, he has won 72 of the 100 tackles he's attempted and made 31 blocks and 21 interceptions. He has also created 20 chances and completed 32 successful dribbles.

Borussia Dortmund striker Erling Haaland has said it is flattering for other clubs to be interested in him.

The 19-year-old also praised Manchester United boss Ole Gunnar Solskjaer for the impact he has had on his career.

Speaking to FourFourTwo (h/t Goal's Chris Burton), Haaland was asked about the interest shown in him by United and Real Madrid.

"It's always nice when clubs are interested," he said. "It means you've done something right."

Haaland scored 20 goals in 50 games while playing under Solskjaer at Molde in their native Norway before the coach left to replace Jose Mourinho at Old Trafford in December 2018.

"I arrived at Molde as a young kid, and he helped me a lot," Haaland said. "He was a good finisher and helped me with striking skills and different finishing methods. He's been important in my career."

The teenager also revealed his admiration for Swedish striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic:

🗣 Haaland: “I like Ibrahimovic's mentality and how he sees different things.

“I also like how he moves from one club to another, in another country – which isn’t easy – but he always comes in and just bangs in goals, from the first second. I liked seeing that." pic.twitter.com/N0qciDT7Qd

— GOAL (@goal) March 2, 2020

Ibrahimovic, 38, has scored 459 goals in 750 games at club level since he left Malmo as a youngster in 2001, having played for Ajax, Juventus, Inter Milan, Barcelona, AC Milan, Paris Saint-Germain, Manchester United and L.A. Galaxy.

Despite his age, Haaland is already at his fourth club. He joined Molde in 2017 from his hometown club Bryne, and he left Molde for Red Bull Salzburg in January last year.

A sensational record of 29 goals and seven assists in 27 matches for Salzburg caught the attention of the rest of Europe, and he was snapped up by Dortmund in January.

He's enjoyed an incredible start with BVB, notching 12 goals in nine games to take his overall tally to 40 in all competitions for the season in just 31 games. He's averaged a goal every 51 minutes he's played this season and also laid on eight assists along the way.

Haaland has plundered 10 goals in the UEFA Champions League, including this superb effort for Dortmund as part of a brace he scored against PSG in the first leg of their last-16 tie (U.S., UK only respectively):

https://twitter.com/brlive/status/1229883580416974849

This man is the real deal! 👏

PSG briefly level through Neymar but Haaland cannot be stopped! 🔥 pic.twitter.com/HkPtRJwbqQ

— Football on TNT Sports (@footballontnt) February 18, 2020

His rise has been so incredible that he wouldn't look out of place at Old Trafford or the Santiago Bernabeu.

United signed Odion Ighalo on loan in January after an injury to Marcus Rashford left them with Anthony Martial and Mason Greenwood as their only forward options for the immediate future. The Red Devils have failed to find the net 12 times in all competitions this season, so they could have benefited enormously from recruiting a player as prolific as Haaland has been.

As for Real, the loss of Cristiano Ronaldo to Juventus in 2018 can still be felt. Ronaldo scored 450 goals in nine years at Madrid, an average of exactly 50 per season.

Dortmund signed Haaland by meeting his €22.5 million (£19.6 million) release clause, but his value will have rocketed for any suitors hoping to lure him away from Germany in the coming years.  

Aston Villa manager Dean Smith has said he's unsure if Jack Grealish will remain at the club, with Manchester United reportedly interested in the midfielder. 

Grealish is set to captain Villa against Manchester City at Wembley Stadium in the Carabao Cup final on Sunday, but Smith has hinted his star player might leave in the summer.

According to James Nursey of the Mirror, the Villa boss was asked in his pre-match press conference whether winning the EFL Cup would keep Grealish at Villa Park, and the coach replied: "I don't know. That is a question we will have to answer in the summer."

The 24-year-old made his debut for his boyhood club in 2012, and the versatile forward has impressed since Villa's promotion last season.

Samuel Luckhurst of the Manchester Evening News reported United are keen to swiftly complete a swoop for the player, with Grealish's contract thought to contain a £45 million release clause.

Smith explained retaining Grealish might depend on Villa's ability to avoid relegation back to the EFL Championship, per Nursey:

"Obviously staying in this league is probably one of the biggest things that will help us to keep Jack Grealish. He wants to play at the highest level and win trophies.

"We have to work hard on Sunday to try and win that trophy. Winning a trophy, well, you can say we have just won one.

"But Jack's future like all the rest of the players is down to what happens over the next three months. What we can do is assess it then."

Grealish was a highly rated talent outside of the top division, but he's proved this term his ceiling is much higher than previously anticipated.

The Sun's Paul Jiggins reported Tottenham Hotspur nearly completed a £6 million deal for Grealish just 18 months ago, but Spurs attempted to drive down the price, leading to the player remaining with his team. United are reportedly prepared to splash out £80 million to bring the winger to Manchester.

Grealish put on a masterclass during Villa's league visit to Old Trafford on December 1. The skipper netted a world-class strike to stun Ole Gunnar Solskjaer's men. The game ended 2-2, but Grealish's curling effort at Stretford End will be remembered as one of the goals of the season.

United's priority remains earning a place in next season's UEFA Champions League, and if they achieve this objective, tempting Grealish might be much easier.

Grealish recently told Sky Sports his goal at United was the favourite of his career and revealed Old Trafford is "obviously my favourite ground in the Premier League" (h/t Metro).

The forward will be his side's biggest threat in the EFL Cup final on Sunday, and if Grealish can win the trophy for his team, his growing reputation will take yet another leap forward.

Mohamed Elneny has urged Egypt team-mate Mohamed Salah to remain at Liverpool amid speculation linking him with Real Madrid.

Per Goal's Chris Burton, Real are reportedly interested in the forward, but Elneny—who's on loan at Besiktas from Arsenal—told beIN Sports that Salah should stay at Anfield, where he enjoys "superstar" status:

"You see Eden Hazard is struggling at Real after he moved from Chelsea.

"Of course, Real Madrid is bigger than Liverpool, Barcelona is bigger than Liverpool.

"But he's very settled at his current club, and this Liverpool team is up there with the best.

"I don't know what he thinks inside, but I would definitely stay at Liverpool."

Liverpool signed Salah from Roma in 2017. He has been a sensational addition to Jurgen Klopp's side, having returned 90 goals and 37 assists in 140 matches for the Reds.

He netted his 19th of the season on Monday as he helped Liverpool come from behind to beat West Ham United 3-2:

In doing so, he hit a notable milestone, per football writer Andrew Beasley:

Mohamed Salah has now equalled Luis Suarez’ Premier League goal tally for Liverpool.

Only Fowler, Gerrard and Owen are ahead of him now.

— Andrew Beasley (@BassTunedToRed) February 24, 2020

Since arriving at Anfield, Salah has helped Liverpool reach back-to-back UEFA Champions League finals, winning the second, and they're on course to win the Premier League title this season having established a 22-point lead.

Such success will give the 27-year-old plenty of reason to stay at the club, but it's no surprise other elite sides will be keeping an eye on him given the key role he has played in it.

What's more, Real are in need of goals following Cristiano Ronaldo's 2018 departure to Juventus:

Barca have scored 42 more goals than Madrid in LaLiga since Ronaldo left. And he's scored exactly 42 in Serie A over same time - via @2010MisterChip

— Dermot Corrigan (@dermotmcorrigan) February 22, 2020

The club recruited Hazard and Luka Jovic last summer for a combined total of £144 million in initial fees alone, but neither has been a success for Los Blancos so far.

The former has twice suffered a fractured ankle so he's likely to end his debut campaign having made just 15 appearances and scored once.

As for Jovic, he has started just eight of his 24 Madrid appearances and found the net only twice.  

RB Leipzig forward Timo Werner is reportedly waiting to see whether Liverpool raise interest in his signature ahead of the summer transfer window, despite reportedly attracting offers from Barcelona and Manchester United.

Simon Hughes and Raphael Honigstein of The Athletic reported both Barca and United have made proposals to sign the player, who is holding out to see whether Liverpool enter the race.

It's understood Werner is available for £51 million provided a transfer is agreed before an April deadline. This could fit Jurgen Klopp's plans, as The Athletic highlighted it was around March that moves for Fabinho and Alisson "really got going" in recent years.

Sport1 reported earlier in February that the Germany international's release clause could be as low as £30 million (h/t MailOnline's Amitai Winehouse).

Liverpool boast a 22-point lead at the top of the Premier League, with Mohamed Salah, Sadio Mane and Roberto Firmino integral to the club's evolution.

A move for Werner would not be made with the intention of replacing anyone among that forward three but rather improving competition. Adam Lallana will be a free agent in the summer and isn't expected to sign a new deal at Anfield, while it appears back-up winger Xherdan Shaqiri could also be moved on.

Werner has made little effort to disguise his admiration of Liverpool lately and told Viasport he was "very proud" to be linked after his penalty saw Leipzig beat Tottenham 1-0 on February 19:

.@TimoWerner: – Liverpool are the best team in the world at the moment, and when you're linked with that team, it makes me very proud.

(@JanAageFjortoft) https://t.co/KE0Fy4sm0F

— Viaplay Fotball (@ViaplayFotball) February 19, 2020

Naby Keita was the last Bundesliga recruit to join Liverpool, moving from Leipzig in July 2018. Werner could reunite with his former team-mate on Merseyside, while Hughes highlighted an intriguing link between him and compatriot Klopp:

Hello lunchtime.

It is not a defining feature of this story but it is a convenient subplot. Klopp’s grandmother Anna knitted him a white jumper in the style of Stuttgart’s kit, with Karlheinz Forster’s No 4 on the back.

Forster is Timo Werner’s agent. https://t.co/DMLTRmddnA

— Simon Hughes (@Simon_Hughes__) February 27, 2020

The German—who turns 24 on March 6—has scored 27 times in 33 appearances across all competitions this season and is in contention to win the Bundesliga's Golden Boot.

Bayern Munich's Robert Lewandowski has scored 25 times in the league compared to Werner's tally of 21, though the latter could seize his chance after the former was ruled out for four weeks with a knee injury.

Statman Dave compared his domestic tally with other highly touted youngsters among Europe's elite:

Timo Werner has scored 21 league goals this season, more than any other U25 player across Europe’s top five leagues:

🇩🇪 Werner (21)
🇫🇷 Mbappé (15)
🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿🇫🇷 Rashford and Dembélé (14)

Next generation of stars. 🙌pic.twitter.com/Ap0nkUwXIg

— Statman Dave (@StatmanDave) February 22, 2020

Liverpool's latest financial reports showed a pre-tax profit of £42 million for the 2018-19 financial year despite investing a record sum of £223 million on players over that period. The club refrained from making any major first-team signings last summer and is sure to have cash in reserve should Klopp wish to spend in 2020, particularly if the Reds win the Premier League (and possibly more).

Europe's giants have seemingly begun to sound out Werner following reported high demand regarding his signature, but the forward appears to have prioritised a switch to Anfield.

Roma manager Paulo Fonseca has said he "would like so much" to sign Manchester United defender Chris Smalling on a permanent deal, while Arsenal loanee Henrikh Mkhitaryan is also a priority.

England international Smalling, 30, joined the Giallorossi on a season-long loan in late August, but it's understood the €3 million temporary deal had no option for a permanent transfer included.

Fonseca told Sky Sports News he wants to sign the player permanently after Roma defeated Lecce 4-0 at home on Sunday:

"Chris is a great, great man, a great, great professional. The adaptation (to Italian football) was very easy for him. He's a boy that everyone loves in the club because he is a great professional.

"I would like Chris to stay. We are speaking. I don't know if it is possible because of the situation with Manchester United, but I would like so much for Chris to stay here with us because he is very important.

"He is a great player, a great man with a great attitude every day and for all of these reasons I would be very happy if Chris stays."

The former Porto and Shakhtar Donetsk coach was evidently impressed after Roma kept a second clean sheet in four days having beaten Gent 1-0 in their UEFA Europa League round-of-32 first leg on Thursday.

Mkhitaryan looked back to his best at the Stadio Olimpico on Sunday when he scored and assisted in Roma's second successive win across all competitions:

The Armenia captain joined Roma on loan from the Gunners on September 2—also for €3 million, plus a potential €100,000 in bonuses—though injury setbacks have limited his involvement thus far.

Fonseca added: "Mkhi during this season got some injuries but he is returning now and he is proving his quality. Let's see. He is a player with great decisions on the pitch and I would also like to keep Mkhi in our team."

Roma have kept back-to-back clean sheets for the first time since late November, and Smalling has played the full 90 minutes in all but one of their 21 league matches since making his Serie A debut in September.

United manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer might consider allowing the player a move given the centre-back competition at Old Trafford. The club signed Harry Maguire from Leicester City last summer, while Eric Bailly, Victor Lindelof, Phil Jones and Axel Tuanzebe have also been in the rotation this season.

Solskjaer seemed certain in his response when asked in December whether he thought Smalling—who has made 323 appearances for United—would return to the club, per broadcaster Bill Rice:

Solskjaer when asked if he thinks Chris Smalling will come back to United.

“Yeah.”#MUFC

— ᗷIᒪᒪ ᖇIᑕᕮ 🎙📻 (@billrice23) December 6, 2019

Arsenal have changed manager since Unai Emery agreed to send Mkhitaryan to Rome, and incumbent boss Mikel Arteta may yet want to give the player a chance in north London.

However, sportswriter Jonny Singer appeared to suggest the playmaker hasn't made the necessary improvements to warrant another chance at the Emirates Stadium:

Also, it's so enjoyable to watch Mkhitaryan play for another team. Tackling his team-mates, dribbling down cul-de-sacs, constantly giving it away. What a player he used to be, what a shadow he is now!

— Jonny Singer (@Jonny_Singer) February 15, 2020

Mkhitaryan, 31, has never recaptured the superb form he enjoyed at former clubs Shakhtar and Borussia Dortmund. He endured a disappointing 18 months at United before he was traded for Alexis Sanchez and sent to Arsenal in January 2018.

A permanent move to the Italian capital could make sense for him and team-mate Smalling, each of whom hope to help Roma—currently fifth in Serie A—to a top-four finish before their loans come to an end.