Barcelona are willing to send Samuel Umtiti out on loan this summer after reports linked the injury-hit World Cup winner with a move to Tottenham Hotspur and Arsenal, according to Sport.
When the Kings of Catalonia paid £25 million to bring a France international to the Camp Nou four years ago, they did so in the hope that Umtiti would transform into a word-leading central defender in Spain and eventually step into Gerard Pique’s finely polished shoes.
While it would be harsh to label the former Lyon ace a ‘flop’ in an era full of truly disastrous Barcelona signings, it’s fair to say his time at the five-time European champions has not exactly gone to plan.
While fellow Frenchman Raphael Varane, looks set to end the season with the La Liga trophy under his arm, Umtiti has made just ten starts in another season ruined by a relentless series of niggles and knocks.
As a result, a cash-strapped Barca side are struggling to find a buyer for a player who could soon slip to fifth in Quique Setien’s pecking order.
Umtiti was offered to Spurs in April, according to Sky, while Sport suggested a few weeks earlier that Mikel Arteta would love to reinforce Arsenal’s eternally-error-prone backline with one of the most naturally talented defenders on the planet – even if his £130,000-a-week wages represented a sizeable stumbling block.
The trail has grown cold in recent weeks, with Arsenal and Spurs seemingly turning their attention to more affordable options.
After all, neither side is exactly flush with cash right now, especially with European qualification far from guaranteed.
But with Barcelona willing to let Umtiti leave for absolutely nothing, for a year at least, do not be surprised to see the north London giants pick up the scent again.
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