Chris Smalling 'could leave Roma in January amid Saudi interest'

Chris Smalling's Serie A adventure could be coming to an end amid interest from clubs in Saudi Arabia.

According to Italian outlet Gazzetta dello Sport, Roma would consider offers for the former Manchester United defender in the January transfer window.

Smalling joined the Giallorossi in 2019 and developed into a mainstay of Roma's defence winning the 2022 Europa Conference League and signing a two-year extension through to June 2025 last summer.

The 33-year-old, however, has been sidelined with tendonitis in his knee for the past three months and has lost his place in the team as a result.

Smalling has made just three appearances this season and hasn't played since Roma's 2-1 defeat to AC Milan on September 1.

In October, Smalling flew back to London to have his knee assessed by Andy Williams, a renowned orthopedic who has worked with Premier League clubs.

But the former United defender remains sidelined and has already missed 13 games this season and no date has been set for his return as yet.

Injuries have been a recurring theme of Smalling's spell in Serie A. He missed 27 matches in all competitions in the 2020-21 season and was out for 14 games in the following campaign.

And according to Gazzetta, the former England international could be joined in Saudi Arabia by teammates Leonardo Spinazzola and Paulo Dybala.

The former is out of contract at the end of the season and was already on the radar of Saudi clubs back in the summer, while the latter's £10million release clause may not be enough to put off potential suitors.

Dybala joined Roma from Juventus at the beginning of last season and scored 18 goals in 38 games in his debut campaign in the Eternal City, but has scored just twice so far this term.

Eight Serie A players