Everton planning Chris Smalling swoop with defender's days at Manchester United numbered

Chris Smalling in a past match with Manchester United. [Photo: Courtesy]

Everton are considering a move for Manchester United defender Chris Smalling.

The 28-year-old’s contract at Old Trafford has just 15 months to run and he is a potential casualty of boss Jose Mourinho’s spending plans in the summer.

Mourinho is understood to be looking for a new central defender and, if he can get one in, then Smalling’s days at United will be numbered.

Everton are keeping tabs on United’s plans for the player and are taking a closer look at him.

They had him watched against Brighton in the FA Cup last weekend, a game United won 2-0.

Smalling cost United £10million when he joined from Fulham in 2010.

Famously, he began playing senior football for non-League Maidstone United before the Cottagers offered him a professional deal two years before his switch to the north-west.

He has been capped 31 times by England but has not played since the 2-2 draw in the World Cup qualifier against Scotland last summer.

A number of players in the Manchester United camp could now be facing possible departure, after putting less impressive performance.

Record signing Paul Pogba, Luke Shaw, Marouane Fellaini and Phil Jones have all been linked with exits. The Portuguese coach is said to be planning on an overhaul that will see him shuffle the backline as well as his attack, as he embarks on renewed battle to clinch the English Premier League crown with the Red Devils.