According to a recent report by L’Equipe (via the Daily Express), Manchester City are locked in a three-way battle with Manchester United and Chelsea in pursuit of Barcelona centre-back Samuel Umtiti this winter. The same source has mentioned that the Citizens will have to fend off stiff competition from two of their closest Premier League rivals if they are to win the race to land the French defender during the January transfer window.
Umtiti’s Lack Of Game Time At The Nou Camp This Season
The 26-year-old has missed a lot of matches for the Catalan outfit this season due to injury. However, even when the French centre-back has been fit, Ernesto Valverde has often put him on the bench instead of using him from the get-go. Umtiti is currently on the fringes of the Barca squad and is struggling to get regular first-team minutes under his belt.
It seems like both the player and the club would benefit from parting ways when the transfer reopens next month. The French talent needs to leave in search of more first-team action while Valverde would be better off recruiting a less injury-prone centre-back.
Umtiti has only made five appearances for the Spanish champions this season and is averaging 1.3 tackles, 1.1 interceptions and 4.4 clearances per game across all competitions (stats via whoscored). The 2018 FIFA World Cup winner has also secured 31 senior caps for France while scoring four goals for his country in the process.
What Makes The French Defensive Ace Such A Good Defender?
What Umtiti lacks in pace, he more than makes up for it through his physical presence and defensive awareness. When he is playing with confidence on the field, the French defender can be a commanding presence at the back as he can overpower the opposition using his sheer strength and hunger to win duels. Furthermore, he excels at intercepting possession for his team and doesn’t mind playing the ball out from the back.
Is Umtiti The Right Choice For The Citizens?
Umtiti will be an excellent fit for Pep Guardiola’s style of play at the Etihad Stadium. He is comfortable when in possession of the ball and can pick out the front players with some accurate long balls. He could be the perfect short-term signing as he will be able to resolve Guardiola’s defensive problems in the absence of Aymeric Laporte.
However, when the Man City centre-back comes back from his injury next year, it will be difficult for the head coach to unleash both of them together as opting to play two left-footed centre-halves could completely disrupt the balance of the team. Hence, the English champions should only consider making a move for Umtiti if they are looking to benefit from his services in the short-term.
