ROMA have reached an agreement with Manchester United and Arsenal to keep Chris Smalling and Henrikh Mkhitaryan on loan beyond June 30, according to reports.
The Premier League stars are both currently at the Italian giants for the season.
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Roma have agreed to keep hold of Smalling and Mkhitaryan beyond June 30, until the end of the season, say reports in Italy
But with the 2019-20 campaign set to run well beyond the loan contract end date of June 30 due to coronavirus, clubs are facing a battle to keep hold of players on expiring deals.
Both players currently away on loan and stars with contracts expiring on June 30 face an uncertain future with the deadline for the season to be ended lifted.
Now reports claim Roma have reached an agreement with Man Utd and the Gunners to keep them until the season’s real end – whenever that may be – say Corriere dello Sport.
The Serie A side currently sit fifth in the standings, with the season currently locked down.
EURO HUNT
And with the prize of a spot in next season’s Champions League for the top-four teams on the line, Roma are desperate to keep their squad in tact.
Smalling has been a near-ever-present for Roma this term, playing 28 times, netting twice in the process.
Hit red-hot form has not only alerted the likes of Arsenal over a potential summer transfer, but also England boss Gareth Southgate, who could recall him to the international fold.
Mkhitaryan, meanwhile, has scored an impressive six goals in just 20 games.
Italian football chiefs are hoping Serie A will return in early June.
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The League’s 20 clubs have now all agreed that the season has to be completed following a video conference.
And the teams want to return to training on May 4 once the lockdown in Italy ends.
There is no set date for the matches to restart but the first week in June was discussed, with no football having been played since the announcement to halt the season on March 9.
Chris Smalling talks about playing for AS Roma and the Europa League
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
