Manchester City are said to be monitoring Samuel Umtiti’s situation at Barcelona now that the central-defender has fallen behind Clement Lenglet in the pecking order at the Camp Nou according to L’Equipe (via Mundo Deportivo).
The Former Olympique Lyonnais defender has only made four La Liga appearances this season and although that’s largely down to injury it appears Lenglet has done enough to keep Umtiti sidelined even now he’s returned to fitness.
Pep Guardiola’s side’s troubles at centre-back this season have been well documented but would the fans be pleased to see Umtiti come in as the solution?
Would you like to see Samuel Umtiti at Manchester City?
Yes
No
He’s injury prone we need skriniar from Inter or kolibably from napoli
— Ali Rage (@AliRage54544235) December 6, 2019
Man City ? injury prone players
— zoy_786 (@zoy2786) December 6, 2019
Why doesn’t Pep introduce more game time for Garcia into first team instead of paying big money all the time for under performing defenders
— mark thomas (@MThomas61) December 6, 2019
Nooooooooooooooooo barca weakness at back started with him.
— Karl Dunkerley (@dunkerley21) December 6, 2019
Please No, What about Caglar Soyuncu, Ben Chilwell, James Maddison from Leicester
— Aldrey Noviello ?? (@Aldreyn06) December 6, 2019
oh hell no.
— bart simpson. (@_malise) December 6, 2019
What do we think?
Samuel Umtiti triumphed at the 2018 World Cup with France and, although he may be finding it difficult to get back into Ernesto Valverde’s starting eleven, he is still considered as one of the continent’s finest central defenders. An upgrade on John Stones and Nicolas Otamendi? You would have to say so based on their performances so far this season.
Barcelona signed the 26-year-old for £22.5m in 2016 according to Transfermarkt.co.uk and his value has almost doubled since (£40.5 million, as per Transfermarkt). It remains to be seen whether or not the Manchester-based club will go after Umtiti but given his current situation, they could be in a position to drive down Barcelona’s asking price for the defender.