According to Calciomercato, Arsenal are willing to make a €50 million bid to Barcelona for the services of Samuel Umtiti. The Gunners will be keen to shore up their defence this summer, and the Frenchman could be an ideal target. But, they will face stiff competition from Italian champions Juventus, who are also vying for the signature of Umtiti.
Umtiti’s disappointing season at Barcelona
Umtiti initially arrived at Barcelona back in 2016, in a €25 million move from Olympique Lyonnais. He was a crucial part of the Catalan backline during his first two seasons at the club, making 50 combined league appearances. The Frenchman was even considered as a first choice centre back alongside Gerard Pique during the start of the 2018/19 campaign.
But, an unfortunate knee injury in September allowed new signing Clement Lenglet to make his mark in the first-team. And since then, the French world champion has been often overlooked by Ernesto Valverde in favour of his compatriot Lenglet.
Umtiti ended up featuring in just under 1,200 minutes of league football, and a move away from Barcelona could be imperative if he is to revive his career next season.
What can Umtiti bring to the table?
Umtiti is a dominant defender, who relies heavily on his physicality during defensive stances. Indeed, he is a dogged defender, having notably averaged over 2.5 clearances in two of his three seasons at Barcelona. The 25-year-old is also proficient when it comes to winning the ball back for his team with strong tackles.
But, Umtiti’s game is not only restricted to his defensive duties as he is an excellent passer of the ball as well. The Frenchman has attained a pass completion rate of over 90% in each of his three seasons in Spain. Also, he is wholly composed on the ball, which allows him to move forward and pick passes in midfield – making him a competent ball playing defender.
Should Arsenal make a move for Umtiti?
Umtiti will be a welcome addition to Arsenal given their lack of reliable options in the defensive department. Laurent Koscielny has been linked with a move away from Emirates while the likes of Rob Holding and Konstantinos Mavrapanos may not be ready to take on the mantle of regular first-team football next season.
Hence, Sokratis, along with makeshift centre-back Nacho Monreal, remains the only reliable options in defence. Umtiti, in that regard, will be an ideal target for the Gunners.
The Frenchman has a lot of experience in the highest level of football and can bring that winning mentality and leadership qualities Arsenal have lacked so much in recent years. And at the age of 25, he can be an ideal long-term defensive solution for coach Unai Emery. However, the Spaniard will need to sell at least one of his star players as a €50 million move for Umtiti might exceed his reported transfer kitty of only €45 million.
Stat courtesy: Whoscored
