Michael Ball believes Everton may pursue a deal to sign Chris Smalling from Roma this summer.

Gianluca Di Marzio has claimed that the Toffees are interested in signing the English centre-back this summer.

Roma have just appointed Jose Mourinho as their new manager and the report claims that he is looking for a different profile of defender.

Smalling first moved to the Italian club on loan in 2019/20 but the deal was made permanent the season following and he has made a total of 58 appearances in Rome.

A former England international with 31 caps, the 31-year-old spent a decade at Manchester United, making 323 appearances at Old Trafford.

And Ball believes that a deal to sign Smalling could be a realistic one for the Toffees this summer, with his experience likely to add plenty to the club’s backline.

Speaking exclusively to Football FanCast, he said: “Chris Smalling, experience is probably what Everton need. Experience at centre-half, we’ve got so many, Godfrey’s doing really well, he had a fantastic season, he’s just lacking experience, you’ve got Yerry Mina who consistently can’t get a run of games, he keeps catching niggles here and there. It’s never been a settled back two or three.

“Chris Smalling will be fit week in and week out and that experience could help the likes of Godfrey, improve his development, and also settle the likes of Michael Keane or Mina alongside him, with his experience.

“It’s a possible one, I can see Everton probably going for it, it’s a player Everton were probably interested in a couple of years ago so it’s more realistic, I can see it happening.”

Smalling is valued at £10.8m by Transfermarkt and has a contract until 2023.