Roma are close to securing an agreement with Manchester United to sign Chris Smalling.

The English defender spent the past season on loan at Roma, and wants to return permanently.

And Italian transfer expert Gianluca Di Marzio reports Roma is set to sign a contract with Roma, which may only be for one year.

The two clubs are also close to an agreement over a transfer fee.

The nature of a fee for Smalling is what has caused the deal to stall, with United wanting considerably more of a fee than Roma can afford.

It is possible Roma may agree another loan deal with an obligation to buy, if they cannot raise funds for a permanent transfer.