Dejan Lovren could inadvertently seal a transfer away from Liverpool if Chris Smalling returns to Man Utd.
Smalling has been on loan at Roma this season and has previously voiced his hopes to stay in Italy's capital beyond the terms of his agreement.
The more the defender has impressed in Serie A though, the more his price tag has driven higher, with United now demanding around £20-25million for his permanent transfer.
Roma do not have that sort of cash freely available, and are now considering other options.
In addition, Smalling has had some concerns over the rising Covid-19 crisis in Italy, with the nation one of the worst-affected by coronavirus.
Sport Witness report the 30-year-old has tasked his agent with seeking out interested parties in the Premier League, with Arsenal among the mooted clubs.
Smalling is still hopeful of earning a recall to the England national side, and his best chance of doing so would be to be playing in the Premier League again.
Should Smalling complete his return to England, that could open the door for Lovren to move to the Stadio Olimpico, according to Corriere dello Sport.
The Croatian international has made just nine appearances for Liverpool this season and is now fourth choice in the pecking order of centre-backs at Anfield.
At 30, Lovren is aware he may only have one big contract left in his career, and is desperate for first-team football.
He has been linked with a switch to Roma in the past, and would welcome the chance to revive his career in a similar fashion to how Smalling has turned his around.
Former Roma sporting director Franco Baldini is also said to have recommended Lovren to club chiefs.
Liverpool would likely demand less than United have for Smalling, as Lovren's contract expires at the end of next season.
There may even be potential for a double transfer involving Xherdan Shaqiri.
The Swiss midfielder is expected to leave Liverpool this summer and Roma are keen admirers of his talents.
Liverpool have reportedly set an asking price of around £16-18m for Shaqiri, while Lovren is valued at around £15m.
