Barcelona could renounce fringe defender Samuel Umtiti for free this summer, handing Arsenal a massive transfer boost.
Umtiti has lost his place in Barcelona’s starting XI following a string of injuries that have kept him out of action in patches over the past two seasons.
Tormented with several injury setbacks, the 26-year-old defender made just ten La Liga starts last season and has already fallen out of Ronald Koeman’s plans for the next term.
The Dutch manager looks to get rid of all fringe players to reduce the ballooning wage bill.
Having already deemed him surplus to requirements, the Catalans look for a buyer to offload the former Lyon star.
Since there’s a shortage of suitors for Umititi, Barcelona are even willing to cut him loose for free, according to Cadena Ser.
The news of Barca’s readiness to give up Umtiti’s services without asking for a compensation fee comes as a boost to Arsenal’s hopes of reinforcing their backline.
Mikel Arteta has acquired the signature of Gabriel Magalhaes not long ago but may embrace the prospect of signing the French centre-back for free.
The Spaniard is desperate to plug his side’s defensive leaks and has been monitoring Umtiti’s situation at Camp Nou for some time.
Now that Sead Kolasinac seems to be on the verge of re-joining Schalke 04, Arteta could opt to step up his long-term interest in the injury-prone central defender.
Before suffering an injury crisis, Umtiti had been a first-team regular at Barcelona. That kind of form is what Arsenal will be looking to dwell on should they decide to pursue this deal.
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