Premier League Rumors: Smalling Could Get Permanent Deal With AS Roma Soon

There are football players currently on loan but have expiring deals. Some are working on getting contract extensions while others prefer to end ties and explore other options. But in the case of Chris Smalling, the 30-year-old defender has lesser things to worry about. A.S. Roma and Manchester United have agreed, meaning Smalling will play on for La Lupa in Serie A. Even better, the new agreement includes an option to buy.

According to reports from Football Italia, the Red Devils and The Magic One made a breakthrough recently when they agreed to a new deal that would allow Smalling to return on loan to Stadio Olimpico next season. Better yet, the new agreement gives Roma an option to buy the 30-year-old center-back.

Based on his performance, it appears that this will be the eventual outcome. Since joining Roma, Smalling has found a new lease on life in his football career. He has appeared in 28 matches, helping La Lupa achieve nine clean sheets and even scoring twice. Smalling will be back on the Italian side come the 2020-21 season with an obligation to buy worth roughly between $18 to $20 million.

There is a chance that La Magica could buy Smalling at the end of the season, something that would spread out over two years, the Daily Mail reported. Originally, United was seeking a $27 million for Smalling but appear to have softened their stance. With the status of Smalling now settled, Roma shifts its focus on another player in Jan Vertonghen. The 33-year-old Belgian footballer is set to leave Tottenham at the end of the month. However, a most recent update on Vertonghen may force Roma to wait a bit longer.

According to BBC, Vertonghen has agreed to a contract extension which means he will stay with Hotspur until the end of the season. His current deal was set to expire on June 30. With the extension, Vertonghen will play on for Tottenham whose last assignment will be against Crystal Palace on July 26.

Once Vertonghen's contract expires, Roma is expected to face competition to get his services. No less than the Belgian himself admitted that he received serious proposals for him. Aside from him, another player who agreed to a contract extension until the end of the season is Dutch goalkeeper Michael Vorm.