According to a recent report by Mail Online, Barcelona are willing to cash in on Samuel Umtiti, who has been on Manchester United’s radar, during the summer transfer window to raise funds for a move to sign Matthijs de Ligt at the end of this campaign. The same source has revealed that the Catalans are ready to give up Umtiti which could pave the way for him to seal a move to Old Trafford in the summer.
Even though the Reds Devils’ hopes of landing the French defender hinges on another deal, Ed Woodward should see this as a favourable opportunity to orchestrate a transfer for Umtiti if he is serious about strengthening the Man United backline ahead of the new season.
The Mancunian outfit has seen a remarkable resurgence under their interim boss Ole Gunnar Solkjaer in recent months. However, United’s defence remains an area of weakness as evidenced by their defeats against Arsenal and Wolverhampton Wanderers earlier this month.
Umtiti has failed to nail down a first-team place at the Nou Camp this season. He has missed a significant chunk of this campaign with a knee injury. The 2018 FIFA World Cup winner has made just ten appearances for the Catalans this term across all competitions.
There is no doubt that Umtiti needs a change in scenery to help him reignite his career in European football. If he is not assured regular game time at the La Liga club, then the best thing for him would be to go to a club that can offer him guaranteed first-team opportunities.
The addition of Umtiti will undoubtedly bolster Man United’s defensive options at the Theatre of Dreams. Solkjaer currently has some decent defenders in his ranks such as Chris Smalling, Phil Jones, Eric Bailly, Victor Lindelof and Marcos Rojo vying for a place in his starting XI. One can argue that Umtiti will be an upgrade over any of them as he is a very reliable defender at the back.
The French centre-back has built a reputation for making timely interceptions and is also very dominant in the air. The fact that Umtiti has lost his place in Ernesto Valverde’s first-team this season doesn’t bode well for his long-term career in the Spanish top-flight. Hence, Old Trafford could be an ideal destination for him. As for Man United, it will be a massive coup if they manage to lure him to England next summer.
