According to reports in The Telegraph, West Ham United, West Bromwich Albion and Everton are all interested in signing £15m-rated Manchester United centre-back Chris Smalling this summer.

The story suggests that Red Devils manager Jose Mourinho has told the 27-year-old that he is surplus to requirements at Old Trafford after an injury-hit campaign that saw him fall down the pecking order, and the news has alerted the interest of a number of Premier League clubs, including the Hammers.

Irons boss Slaven Bilic is keen to strengthen his squad ahead of the new season to improve upon a disappointing campaign last time out at their new London Stadium home.

Even though he is an England international and has bundles of top flight experience, a move for the Three Lions man may not be the right thing for the east London outfit to do.

Here are three reasons West Ham should steer clear of signing Smalling...

They have enough centre-backs

Britain Football Soccer - Everton v West Ham United - Premier League - Goodison Park - 30/10/16
Everton's Idrissa Gueye in action with West Ham United's Angelo Ogbonna 
Action Images via Reuters / Carl Recine
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With Angelo Ogbonna due to return from a knee injury for pre-season and with the club already having Winston Reid, Jose Fonte and James Collins at centre-back – with youngsters such as Reece Oxford to consider too – there is a doubt as to whether they actually need to sign a central defender this summer.

If Smalling was to be signed, then the most likely exit would be Collins when you consider how highly-rated Ogbonna and Reid and the fact that Fonte only joined during the January transfer window.

Injury worries

The reason Slaven Bilic brought in Fonte in January was partly to do with Ogbonna’s injury, and it proved to be an even smarter move when Reid picked up an abductor injury and missed five matches between March and April.

The Croatian certainly won’t want to sign another centre-back with injury problems, and he will certainly be concerned that the 27-year-old missed a total of 21 games last season because of a broken toe and a knee problem.

Falling out of favour

Having won the Players’ Player of the Year award in the 2015/16 campaign, the Irons could certainly be worried about his decline in form last season and the fact that manager Jose Mourinho questioned his mental toughness and refusal to play through the pain barrier.

While we know Mourinho doesn’t always mince his words, it could be a concern for Bilic as he will want players to be committed and in the right frame of mind if the club are to make a significant improvement in the Premier League next term.

Do you agree, Irons fans? Let us know below.