Manchester United are counting on the sale of Chris Smalling to help fund plans to sign Napoli defender Kalidou Koulibaly.

Il Mattino says Smalling is 'getting closer' to joining Serie A club Roma.

Smalling, 30, has enjoyed his season-long loan spell with Roma having quickly cemented his place in the starting XI.

Ole Gunnar Solskjaer will then move for Koulibaly with Napoli president Aurelio De Laurentiis awaiting offers for his £93million-rated centre-back - £4m more than United's current club-record signing, Paul Pogba.

And the Red Devils would be 'ready to invest a very important amount' to complete the 'reconstruction of the team', including a move for Koulibaly.