Arsenal reportedly made a bid to sign Barcelona’s La Liga champion and World Cup winner Umtiti last week.
Unai Emery has praised Barcelona defender Samuel Umtiti amid rising speculation that the French World Cup winner could be on his way to Arsenal this summer, while speaking to RMC Sport (7 April, 2.30pm).
Despite playing a major role as Barcelona won the La Liga title last season, the France international is apparently up for sale this summer with Goal stating that Ernesto Valverde’s side will let him leave as they look to finance a deal for Ajax captain Matthijs de Ligt.
Tuttomercatoweb then claimed that Arsenal had launched a bid to sign Umtiti on loan with an option to sign him permanently for £38.5 million in the summer of 2020.
And talk of the former Lyon powerhouse is heading to the Emirates will only grow louder after Emery spoke of his admiration for the 25-year-old.
“He’s a very good player. France has a lot of very good footballers who are playing abroad,” said the former Sevilla and PSG boss.
Arsenal have made great strides under Emery but they continue to look a little shaky at the back.
The Gunners lost 1-0 to Everton on Sunday, a result that dents their top four hopes, but they could have been beaten by three or four if it wasn’t for some wild finishing from Richarlison and Gylfi Sigurdsson.
Umtiti would undoubtedly be an upgrade on Shkodran Mustafi and co.
Receive exclusive football transfer news and updates twice a week to your mailbox
