Man Utd, Arsenal on alert as Barcelona propose loan of €500m man

Barcelona are ready to send Samuel Umtiti out on loan for the 2020-21 season, as they step up their bid to sign a new world-class centre-back, according to a report.

Spanish outlet Sport have the story on their front page on Tuesday with the words ‘Umtiti exit’.

The report claims Barca have decided to offload the 26-year-old centre-back on loan and Serie A clubs Napoli, Lazio, Roma and Torino are all interested in the defender.

There is no mention of a permanent sale for Umtiti, who has been linked with Arsenal and Manchester United previously.

The same paper in April claimed Arsenal, Inter Milan and Napoli had all been in touch with Barca over a potential deal for Umtiti.

However, all had been pout off by the prices involved. Barca’s asking price off €50m had put off all three suitors and none were prepared to spend such a sum on a defender who has featured just 33 times over the past two seasons.

The defender was also said to be asking for wages worth €8m a season, which equates to around £132,000 a week.

Sport has also previously claimed that Manchester United were interested and would be willing to make a big bid for the defender as Ole Gunnar Solskjaer looks for a long-term partner for Harry Maguire.

Umtiti on transfer list

What is clear is that Barca have been trying to offload the France World Cup winner for some time.

Umtiti’s inconsistent form and constant knee problems – and he is currently sidelined “until further notice” due to yet another knee injury – have placed him at the top of their transfer list.

He is tied to Barca until June 2023 and has a mammoth €500m release clause in his deal. He is believed to have refused to leave Barca in the past two transfer windows.

However, he may fancy a temporary spell away to get some games ahead of the European Championships next summer and United and Arsenal may well be monitoring his situation.