A Small battle

WEST BROM will this week step up their chase for unsettled Manchester United central defender Chris Smalling.

The England star, 27, is on his way out of Old Trafford after falling down the pecking order under boss Jose Mourinho.

And the Baggies remain favourites to land the former Fulham man (right) having expressed a strong interest in his services since the end of last season.

Hawthorns chief Tony Pulis is keen to reunite Smalling with his former Old Trafford team-mate Jonny Evans in the West Brom defence and will attempt to cement a £10million deal once his side return from their pre-season tour of Asia.

Pulis admitted last week that clubs like the Baggies have to “feed off scraps” and he knows he will have to move quickly to get Smalling – with Leicester, Stoke and Crystal Palace all monitoring developments.

HARRY PRATT WATFORD are set to land Kieran Gibbs after West Brom admitted defeat in the race for the Arsenal outcast.

Baggies boss Tony Pulis has been targeting a new left-back all summer – and believed the England international, 27, was the answer.

But having had a £10million offer for Gibbs rejected yesterday, Pulis revealed he is no longer in the hunt.

He said: “No, we won’t be signing Kieran Gibbs – that deal is dead. It’s not happening. We have other targets and will now try to get them done instead.”

Watford are now the clear favourites to secure his services as long as they meet Arsenal’s £12m valuation.

Gibbs is behind Nacho Monreal in the Gunners’ pecking order while another left-back Sead Kolasinac, 24, also arrived recently on a free transfer from Schalke.