Barcelona have opened the door for the Red Devils to sign Samuel Umtiti, according to reports in Spain. Man United have been linked with the 26-year-old centre-back for several years, while the Norwegian manager is reportedly keen to bolster his options in the back-line.
Samuel has barely featured for the Catalan club this campaign having started only nine matches in La Liga and three games in the Champions League. La Liga giants are now open to selling Umtiti and are lining up Villarreal defender Pau Torres as his replacement.
And the report also claims that Red Devils are the ‘most interested’ team in France international, while Blaugrana are holding out for a €50m transfer fee. The French centre-back has also not indicated that he would be willing to leave Camp Nou.
Samuel’s current deal expires in 2023. Blaugrana are also said to be willing to offer Umtiti to Paris Saint-Germain in their offer to sign Neymar. Samuel could be used as a bargaining tool to lure Neymar from PSG in a cash-plus-player deal, the defender is not yet fully sold on a move to Man United, they added.
Signing Samuel once recognised as one of the most talented defenders in the world, would be a huge boost to Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, who is said to be keen on strengthening his defence. Samuel has featured only 11 times in LaLiga for the Blaugrana this campaign, with a knee injury restricting his time on the pitch.
The World Cup winner has since returned to full fitness but has lost his place in the Blaugrana, with Gerard Pique and Clement Lenglet currently the first-choice centre-back pairing.
