Manchester United Transfer News: Chris Smalling in 4-Man Inter Milan Rumours

Inter Milan are reportedly interested in signing four Manchester United players, including defender Chris Smalling.

According to Corriere dello Sport (h/t Jonathan Spencer of the MailOnline), aside from the England international, the Nerazzurri also want to bring in Daley Blind, Matteo Darmian and Memphis Depay if possible.

It’s noted in the report that Inter have strong links with Red Devils manager Jose Mourinho following his successful spell as manager between 2008 and 2010.

As noted by Spencer, Mourinho seemed to make an underhand dig at Smalling following the team’s last outing, a 3-1 win over Swansea City, suggesting that he was unhappy with players not pushing themselves through the pain barrier for the sake of their team-mates.

Smalling has been a key part of the United side in recent seasons, providing a defensive linchpin under former manager Louis van Gaal and initially impressing in partnership with Eric Bailly.

However, sports journalist Liam Canning has made his feelings clear on the 26-year-old:

If Inter are successful in their reported transfer endeavours, Smalling could be set to depart alongside two other defensive options at Old Trafford in Blind and Darmian.

In the report, it’s stated the Serie A side were interested in signing Blind in the summer and could reignite their interest in the Netherlands international. While the former Ajax man is a useful squad player—able to perform as a centre-back, left-back and in midfield—there have been question marks about his physicality, especially for a Mourinho team.

Alongside Smalling, he did excel as a centre-back in 2015-16, with his distribution from deep key to the possession football Van Gaal professed at Old Trafford.

While he suited that way of playing, Blind isn’t the kind of player that’s previously thrived under the current Red Devils boss, as noted by James Ducker of the Daily Telegraph:

Darmian is another defender who may not have the somatotype to cut it under Mourinho. So far this season, the Portuguese has preferred to use Antonio Valencia at right-back, with the Ecuadorian offering a dynamic and forceful presence; the Italy international has been a deputy as a result.

Like Blind, he excels in his defensive work, able to spot danger, win tackles and close off spaces quickly. However, Mourinho has a reputation for wanting multifaceted footballers in his squad.

The final member of the quartet linked with Inter is Depay, who has failed to find form since joining United from PSV Eindhoven in the summer of 2014. After he netted a brace for the Netherlands on Sunday evening against Luxembourg, Squawka Football summed up his struggles:

Per Spencer, if Inter are to get Depay on board, then they’ll have to fight off competition from Everton, with manager Ronald Koeman confirming his interest in signing the winger in the January transfer window.

Following their poor start to the Serie A season—manager Frank de Boer was sacked recently at the San Siro—Inter do need rejuvenating in January with some fresh faces. However, it’d be a huge surprise to see the Italian giants target a quartet of players from the same club and for United to let so many players leave.

In defence, in particular, while there are doubts over Smalling, Blind and Darmian, they’re each proven in the Premier League and, typically, dependable options. Mourinho may sanction the sale of one player as a result, but to lose three first-team stars in the same area of the pitch would leave the Red Devils very short.