Chris Smalling, the former Manchester United and England centre-back, is in advanced negotiations with Portuguese league leaders Porto, according to reports.

The 36-year-old has been without a club since parting ways with Saudi Pro League side Al-Fayha in the summer. Speculation had previously linked him with a move to Rangers, but those talks never progressed into a firm offer.

A deal with Porto is not yet finalised, though negotiations are understood to have reached an advanced stage. Porto have been in outstanding form this season, winning all seven of their Primeira Liga matches to build a five-point lead over rivals Benfica.

A decorated career

Smalling is eager to extend a professional career now spanning 19 years — one that began at non-league Maidstone before taking him through Fulham and on to Manchester United, where he collected five major honours, including two Premier League titles.

He later moved to Roma, where he lifted the UEFA Conference League trophy under Jose Mourinho in 2022. In total, Smalling earned 31 caps for England across his international career.

Porto's European test

While Porto have dominated domestically, the European stage has proved harder: Francesco Farioli's side fell to a home defeat against Manchester City in their opening UEFA Champions League fixture this campaign.

A move to Porto would hand Smalling a return to top-flight European football and, potentially, another shot at continental competition.