Chris Smalling has impressed while on loan at Roma this season, and the Italian club's boss Paulo Fonseca is keen to make his deal permanent.
Speaking to A Bola, Fonseca said he is 'very important to the club,' and that he would 'like him to stay.'
The Englishman joined Roma on loan in August, and has featured 28 times for the team, even contributing two goals and an assist. They sit fifth in the Serie A standings.
'He surprised me,' said Fonseca. 'He's a defender that had never left England and he arrived in a league very demanding of tactics, where details make the difference.