Arsenal showed an interest in signing Barcelona defender Samuel Umtiti before the transfer deadline – and could return for him this summer.
That’s according to Spanish newspaper Mundo Deportivo, who claim that Arsenal explored a loan deal to sign Umtiti.
The transfer deadline passed without Arsenal signing Umtiti, or anybody else for that matter as the Gunners experienced a low-key deadline day.
The report notes that a deal for Umtiti could actually happen in June, with all sides seemingly open to that possibility.
Umtiti, 28, was a star in his first two seasons at Barcelona and even won the World Cup with France in the summer of 2018.
Since then though, Umtiti has only managed 41 league appearances for Barcelona, suffering with major injury problems.
The Frenchman seemingly isn’t wanted at the Camp Nou but has still managed to sign a new contract.
Umtiti signed a new deal until 2026 last month, reducing his salary in favour of more years on his deal.
That allowed Barcelona to register Ferran Torres, but Umtiti is still likely to leave Barcelona at the end of the season.
Whether Arsenal should actually sign Umtiti is another matter though.
Umtiti was once a superb defender. Quick, strong and capable of playing out from the back, Umtiti looked to be a star in the making.
Umtiti isn’t that player anymore though. Injuries have ravaged him, and as he approaches his 30’s, it’s unlikely that situation will get any better.
Arsenal simply give big contracts to players who aren’t going to play. There have been far too many case of that in recent years, including Mesut Ozil and Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang.
Arsenal have enjoyed a promising season because Mikel Arteta is using young, vibrant players to drive the club forward.
Adding Umtiti would be a departure from all the great work Edu and Arteta have done in recent times, adding an injury-prone player who would command big wages.
Arsenal may well want another left-footed centre back this summer to compete with Gabriel Magalhaes, but Umtiti shouldn’t be that player.
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