Barcelona are keen to move midfielder Samuel Umtiti out of the club in an attempt to lower a devastating salary, even if it means you may have to accept a reduced price transfer fee, send him out on loan for a year or release him completely from his contract.
Unless Umtiti and others, such as Philippe Coutinho and Miralem Pjanic, leave Camp Nou, Barça will not have enough space under La Liga’s salary cap rules to officially register new players Sergio Aguero, Memphis Depay and Eric Garcia, or offer Lionel Messi a new contract.
The 27-year-old won the World Cup with France starting in 2018, although he has struggled with persistent knee injuries and has only played 40 league matches in three seasons since then.
Barcelona must trim its salary costs as soon as possible / Soccrates Images / Getty Images
However, the arrival of Clement Lenglet in 2018 and the recent emergence of La Masia graduate Oscar Mingueza have also served to limit his playing time even when he is in shape.
If a club is willing to bet on Umtiti’s fitness with the belief that they can handle it appropriately and give him opportunities to play as he was denied in particular during the second half of last season, he can still be a valuable addition to any defensive unit in need of reinforcement.
Valencia’s defense needs reinforcements / Quality Sport Images / Getty Images
Should Umtiti be particularly interested in staying in Spain, Valencia can do with help at the back, as conceding too many goals is the reason why they finished ninth and 13th in La Liga since the last qualifier for the Champions League 2019.
The current squad is light on the midfield, with former Arsenal defender Gabriel Paulista, former France U21-year-old Mouctar Diakhaby and 21-year-old Hugo Guillamon as the only options.
Marseille have focused on young players this summer / CHRISTOPHE SIMON / Getty Images
After seeing Lille end a ten-year Ligue 1 title drought last season, Marseille have been inspired to end their own drought since 2010. The club have already been ambitious in the transfer market by signing Gerson, Konrad de la Fuente and Cengiz Under in attacking areas. .
They have also brought in Matteo Guendouzi and are expected to seal the loan of William Saliba from Arsenal as well, and Umtiti can represent a more experienced alternative among the young heads.
Benitez is new manager at Goodison Park / Clive Brunskill / Getty Images
Defensive improvement will need to be an important part of Rafa Benitez’s tenure at Everton if Toffees is to improve under his new coach and rise to European battle.
Benitez previously used a 3-4-3 set-up in Newcastle when matches required it and such a system could benefit Umtiti and Everton’s other midfielders more than a flat back four, especially with wingers like Lucas Digne and Seamus Coleman to flank them.
Nuno Espirito Santo was recently named head coach / Catherine Ivill / Getty Images
Spurs want at least one new midfielder this summer, preferably two. They have already been in talks about several potential offers, including Takehiro Tomiyasu and Jannik Vestergaard, while new head coach Nuno Espirito Santo has also asked the club to approach Wolves captain Conor Coady.
But Umtiti, a two-time La Liga champion, could bring a different kind of experience to north London.
Arsenal lack experience at the back / Marc Atkins / Getty Images
With David Luiz retiring at the end of last season, Arsenal lack top-level experience in central defense, with the current options being Gabriel, Rob Holding, Pablo Mari and Calum Chambers. Kieran Tierney can be added to it in a rear three-system.
Ben White is the preferred goal, but Umtiti has the experience and has been linked to the Gunners before. Everton are also in for White and Umtiti could be an option for both.
Arsenal officials are prepared to sanction a large summer spending if players they target are 25 years old or younger and have the potential to improve and increase value. Umtiti does not fit that profile, although the possible lack of a huge transfer fee may still have some appeal.
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