Roy Hodgson seems upset to be losing defender Chris Smalling, saying that Manchester United will soon realise that they have signed the Fulham prospect on the cheap.
The England under-21 international has agreed terms for a transfer to Old Trafford that will go through at the end of the season and will have a medical in Manchester today, according to reports.
The club has accepted an offer from United and as far as I know that’s where he’s going. I know nothing about an offer from Arsenal. Sir Alex doesn’t make mistakes when he pays a lot of money for a young player because he realises in years to come he is going to seem very cheap.
We knew we had a diamond in our midst but when you are Fulham and you produce a diamond you’re always aware it can be taken away from you.
This doesn’t bode too badly actually: “in years to come he is going to seem very cheap.”
Whilst acknowledging that Smalling will become a very good player, it at least implies that we have been offered a lot of money for him. I think it also implies that Smalling has not been forced out at all in a desperate need for cash, but wanted to go when ManU came in for him (and who can blame him?). As long as we can use the funds to strengthen, with at least one full-back coming in.