Manchester United set to replace Chris Smalling with Marquinhos

Jose Mourinho is set to sell Chris Smalling after deeming him not good enough for Manchester United. 

Smalling has endured a difficult season at Old Trafford, appearing only 18 times in the league. It has been an injury-riddled campaign for the England international, and he has dropped down the pecking order with Mourinho preferring Eric Bailly, Marcos Rojo, Phil Jones, and even Daley Blind, who naturally operates as a left-back.

Blind is expected to start the Europe League final as a centre-back. Smalling and Jones will both fight for the chance to start alongside him.

Mourinho wants to sell Smalling because he thinks the defender is simply not tough enough to be on his team. The United manager has publicly called him out twice this season to question his toughness. The first was after Smalling missed a Premier League game against Swansea in November, and the second was after Smalling failed to recover from a knee injury last month. He has also been culpable for many of the goals United have conceded this season. 

Mourinho is finally ready to part ways with Smalling and is now open to offers for the England international, with West Ham emerging as early favourites to sign him. 

The Portuguese has already lined up a replacement for Smalling in PSG defender Marquinhos. The Brazilian has been on Manchester United's radar for some time and have been battling with Chelsea for his signature for the last two seasons. 

United look set to have finally beaten the Blues after a reported £60 million was agreed between PSG and the Red Devils to make Marquinhos the most expensive defender in history.