Barcelona Set Umtiti

By Joshua Walters

According to football news outlet Sports, Barcelona have put a price tag on their French defender Samuel Umtiti.

It is reported that the Spanish giants will not accept anything below €50 million for the player.

With regards to the need to sell players and Umtiti’s recent poor performances, Barcelona have confirmed they will listen to offers for the payer.

Having suffered an injury earlier last season, the former Lyon defender lost his position to his fellow countryfolk Clement Lenglet.

Lenglet has developed to be the best option to partner Gerard Pique at the back for coach Ernesto Valverde as Umtiti warmed the bench in the last six months.

Umtiti is said to have upset the club's hierarchy after using interest from other clubs as a bargaining chip to pen a new deal.

Despite Barcelona waiting for an offer for the player, the club’s failure to purchase Dutch defender Matthijs De Ligt will give Umtiti hope of remaining with the Catalan outfit.

Having arrived from Lyon in 2016 for a reported fee of €25 million, Umtiti impressed in his first two seasons, establishing himself as the first choice alongside Pique. 

The confirmation by Barcelona will put both Manchester United and Juventus on the alert as they were linked with the player last season.

But with Juventus almost securing the services of De Ligt, Umtiti’s move to the Serie A champions will hang on the outcome of that transfer.

Umtiti in the last season played 14 games for Barcelona in the LaLiga and just one appearance in the Champions League.