Chris Smalling Sale Reportedly Eyed by Jose Mourinho After Victor Lindelof Move

Manchester United are reportedly preparing to sell central defender Chris Smalling after the club completed the £31 million signing of Benfica star Victor Lindelof on Wednesday. 

The Mirror's John Cross reported manager Jose Mourinho questions Smalling's "attitude and ability," and both West Ham United and Everton are said to have been alerted to the player's availability.

In fact, the Daily Star's Jeremy Cross added the Hammers are already preparing a £10 million offer for Smalling, although the Red Devils are seeking something closer to £15 million.

United announced the capture of Lindelof on Wednesday, and the Sweden international told the club's official Twitter account he's already licking his lips at the prospect of working under Mourinho:

Smalling missed 21 matches of the 2016-17 campaign through injury, per Transfermarkt, and Mourinho was critical of some players not being able to push through the pain barrier on several occasions throughout the term.

Luke Shaw, Phil Jones and former Fulham defender Smalling were among those to draw their boss' fury at one point or another. When asked in April if the latter pair had a future under him, Mourinho said, per Sky Sports' Michael Kelleher:

"Of course they have. I hope this season. It's not just about them. It's about the philosophy and mentality around them. Cautious. Cautious. Cautious. Just a cautious approach. It's a profile, it's the philosophy of work. Just that."

Eric Bailly's first season at Old Trafford was a success, and the Ivorian looks most likely to partner new man Lindelof at centre-back, leading Samuel Luckhurst of the Manchester Evening News to adjudge Smalling as a sacrifice:

Marcos Rojo, Jones and Daley Blind may all count themselves ahead of the England international, whose drop in reputation at United happened to coincide with Jones and Rojo reviving their careers to an extent under Mourinho.

The Portuguese tactician also recently gave some insight into his view of Smalling, per Cross' report: "I even joked with Smalling—'With your feet, we're for sure not playing out from the back!'"

Lindelof will have a period of acclimatisation as he looks to jump from the Primeira Liga up to Premier League standards, although Statman Dave provided numbers to suggest he could still be a defender of an elite calibre:

Smalling, 27, arrived at Old Trafford from Fulham in 2010 and has seen his profile peak and trough since then, and this could be the summer that Mourinho—with few loyalties to United's long-term servants—finally cuts ties.

The club will look to draw the greatest transfer fee possible in order to sell their central defender, although the desire to free up space following Lindelof's arrival could see him leave for less than their valuation.