AS Roma’s reported interest in Shkodran Mustafi looks like it isn’t going to go anywhere, with the Serie A side loaning Chris Smalling from Manchester United instead.

Fabrizio Romano of Di Marzio reports that Smalling is set to move to AS Roma on a ‘simple loan’ with no option to buy. Roma will pay United a €3m loan fee, and the centre-back has given his agreement for the move to go ahead.

As a result, Roma’s interest in out-of-favour Arsenal centre-back Mustafi suddenly looks very unlikely to progress anywhere.

Di Marzio had themselves previously confirmed that the Serie A side were interested in Mustafi, but they added that the defender’s price-tag was the main difficulty in completing a deal.

The Gunners are seemingly after £25m for a transfer, a figure which Mustafi’s agent and father has asked them to lower. Unfortunately, it seems like it’s too late for that to make a difference in Roma’s case, as they’ve opted for a much cheaper loan deal.

Unai Emery has publicly stated that it would be better if the 27-year-old left this summer, but time is running out to find a buyer at this stage.