This article is part of Football FanCast's Transfer Focus series, which provides opinion and analysis on recent transfer news...

According to new reports coming from Corriere della Sera, Roma are working hard to make Chris Smalling's stay in the capital permanent. Looking at the season the defender is having and their team as a whole, this should be their priority for the upcoming transfer window.

What's the word, then?

It seems that the Italians have made up their mind: Smalling has to stay put and his agent will be working hard to make it happen as soon as possible.

Still, it seems that the Red Devils will demand around €18m (£15m) for the 30-year-old centre-back, as per Corriere della Sera's same report, but the upper management of the Roman Gladiators appear calm.

They believe Smalling wants to stay put and that should play right into their hands once the upcoming winter market opens in January.

Keeping the reborn defender at the club definitely looks like a good piece of business for them at the very moment.

A new player

Needless to say, Smalling has completely changed ever since his departure from Manchester United.

During his last season at Old Trafford, the 30-year-old centre-back struggled to show consistency week in, week out and even Ole Gunnar Solskjaer admitted it would be for the best if he sought out the exit door.

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His spell with Manchester United was littered with big blunders and heavy criticism but now he seems to have turned a new leaf altogether.

He's been Roma's best performers in 2019/20 with an average rating of 7.53 in Serie A according to Whoscored.

Smalling has averaged 1.2 tackles and 1.9 interceptions per game and even managed to bag two goals and one assist in the league this season.

By all standards, he went from being a zero over at Old Trafford to being a hero at the Olimpico and that's no small feat to achieve.

Roma's reported insistence of keeping the centre-back is very much warranted and despite his reformed status, with the likes of Maguire, Victor Lindelof, Phil Jones, Axel Tuanzebe and Marcos Rojo all fighting for a central defensive spot in the Red Devils' team, a return back to England would definitely not suit either party.

Staying in Italy, however, seems like the ideal scenario, both for Roma and Smalling himself.

In other news, Paris Saint-Germain seem to be targeting one of Roma's young jewels and the Italians might have some trouble keeping them away.