Smalling up for the challenge against Sergio Ramos

Can you bet your money that Ramos will be a Man Utd player at the end of this summer? Chris Smalling insists that he is unconcerned by the potential arrival of Sergio Ramos at Manchester United and hopes to retain his place in the team.

Smalling made 29 appearances in all competitions in 2014-15, scoring four goals, as Louis van Gaal regularly altered his back line, and he signed a new long-term deal in April.

Van Gaal has identified Ramos as a potential acquisition but the England international says that the 29-year-old’s potential summer arrival does not worry him.

"I think it's a case of where, at Manchester United, there's always competition," he told reporters. "Even when I signed [the fresh terms] there were five centre-backs who I had to work hard to get past.

"So I always knew I was going to be compared against the best because United can always challenge for the best and I'm up for that challenge."

Smalling had an injury-disrupted start to last season, missing games against West Ham and Everton, and he admits that he is desperate to remain fit for the entirety of the campaign.

"I hope high performances can keep me in the team," he added.

"I think, once you set a new benchmark, it's a case of aiming higher and not letting your standards drop below that and I'm hoping for an injury-free start to the season and the season in general."