According to Marca newspaper, as cited by Sport Witness, Barcelona are eyeing a move for a central defender in the upcoming January transfer window. It is believed that they are preparing to give up on Samuel Umtiti, who has struggled with fitness and lack of game-time. The Frenchman is currently valued at around €40-60 million.
Umtiti’s struggles at Barcelona
Umtiti initially joined Barcelona in 2016 and enjoyed an excellent start to his career in Catalonia. He was, in fact, one of Europe’s top defenders following his superb performances during the 2016/17 and 2017/18 season. Not to mention, his performance at the back, alongside Raphael Varane was critical in helping France win the 2018 FIFA World Cup.
But, the Frenchman has endured a steady downfall the past couple of years, especially after the arrival of Clement Lenglet. The ex-Sevilla star has become Barcelona’s primary centre-back alongside Gerard Pique while Umtiti has struggled with lack of fitness. The defender has experienced four different spells on the sidelines due to injury since the start of the 2018/19 campaign.
Umtiti’s decline was evident when he featured in only 14 league matches last season. This term, he has mustered only two appearances so far.
Does Umtiti have any future at the club?
Umtiti could actually redeem himself if he can recover from his fitness problems. But, he would need a bit of luck considering the fact that Pique is already nearing the final phase of his career. The Catalan’s downfall due to age would pave the way for Umtiti to earn a more prominent role in the starting lineup.
However, Barcelona’s search for a new centre back definitely suggest that the club does not have a plan with Umtiti, though it is fair to point out that his fortune could change in the event of potential managerial turnover.
Should Barcelona cash in on Umtiti?
Offloading Umtiti might be the best option for Barcelona at the moment. But, their hefty €40-60 million valuation for the defender is unlikely to be met given how he has struggled with form and fitness over the past 12 months. It is, therefore, wiser for the Catalans to lower their asking fee for Umtiti.
The Frenchman still has the quality to become an integral part of any top club in Europe at the moment. Clubs like Borussia Dortmund, Arsenal and Manchester United, among many others, would certainly cherish the opportunity to sign the World Cup winner, preferably in the upcoming January transfer window.
