Man City to solve defensive crisis in swoop for €45m out-of-form Arsenal target

Umtiti.Coutinho.Dembele.TEAMtalk

Man City could look to capture the signature of Barcelona’s France international Samuel Umtiti to ease the strain on Pep Guardiola’s beleaguered back line.

With the news that superstar centre-back Aymeric Laporte and England international John Stones have been ruled out for five months and five weeks respectively, the Citizen’s will be required to play at least one man out of position to plug the gap left.

Talismanic club legend Vincent Kompany was allowed to return to his homeland in the summer, which now leaves Nicolas Otamendi as City’s solitary senior recognised centre-half for the upcoming month of matches.

Man City had lodged interest in Leicester’s Harry Maguire during the summer window, but balked at the asking price quoted, deeming the 26-year-old not worth a world record fee for a defender.

Now a report by Spanish outlet Don Balon (via CaughtOffside) suggests that Pep will look to strengthen what has seemingly become a position of weakness.

Samuel Umtiti Barcelona TEAMtalk

A fee as low as €45m is quoted for the Barca defender, with the surpsingly low sum explained due to Umtiti’s loss of form since his initial impressive two years with the Catalan club.

Umtiti had previously been linked with a move to Arsenal, but rebuffed all talk of the Gunners ever being a serious contender to sign him.

 

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