Could Manchester United’s Chris Smalling be set for a summer exit?

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According to reports in The Sun over the past day, Manchester United and England centre-back Chris Smalling is becoming a wanted man by Premier League rivals West Ham and West Brom.

After falling down the pecking order at Old Trafford, behind the likes of Marcos Rojo and Eric Bailly, this season the 27-year-old could need to look elsewhere in order to secure regular first-team football.

And it is believed that Manchester United manager Jose Mourinho is willing to listen to offers for his central defender, potentially offloading him to pave the way for Michael Keane to re-join the side.

What can the United defender add to a Premier League side?

More than anything, Smalling’s experience of the English top-flight is almost incomparable after spending seven years at Manchester United and making over 150 appearances in all competitions.

The most obvious attribute that the ex-non-league man has is his height; at six-feet and four-inches tall his frame lends himself well to coping against physical and powerful Premier League forwards.

It also leaves him perfectly able from set pieces – both offensively and defensively – and Smalling is a player that plays with no fear whenever on the pitch, happy to commit to a challenge with anybody.

The England international also popped up with four goals for United a few seasons back and, given the chance, he’s able to show a prolific side in the penalty area not often associated with defenders.

Although his excellent development under previous manager Louis van Gaal has stalled somewhat since the arrival of Mourinho, the leadership he learnt is still there and could certainly prove to be a useful attribute for clubs such as West Brom or West Ham, adding additional stability in the defence.