The Magpies are expected to recruit heavily this summer after they won the Championship last season to confirm their return to the Premier League.
Smalling is reported to believe that with the arrival of Lindelof means he will slip down the ‘pecking-order’ and is not optimistic about his future with the Red Devils.
Jose Mourinho has not yet stated that the former Fulham enforcer will be surplus to his requirements for the 2017-18 Premier League campaign, but it is believed that United’s Portuguese manager will allow the player to leave.
Smalling has played over 200 times for the Red Devils since joining them in 2010. During that time the club has won the Premier League title twice, the FA Cup, League Cup and UEFA Europa League once each, and the Community Shield three times, and to date the 27-year-old has been capped 31 times by England.
He would undoubtedly be a valuable addition for any club seeking his signature, though his present salary of almost £100,000 a week may prove to be a stumbling block in negotiations.
Newcastle manager Rafael Benitez reportedly already has Stoke City central defender Ryan Shawcross in his sights as he seeks to further strengthen his squad after bouncing back from the Championship at the first time of asking.
The impressive CV of the younger Smalling may, though, be very hard to resist.
Newcastle have Jamaal Lascelles, Ciaran Clark and Chancel Mbemba as options at the heart of their rearguard ahead of next season, but signing someone of Smalling’s calibre would be a real statement by the St James’ Park outfit.
Benitez wants to add quality to his ranks this summer and is expected to be backed financially by Mike Ashley, with the Geordie ranks surely excited about a possible move for the United defender.
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