Manchester United dealt transfer blow over Barcelona’s Samuel Umtiti

Manchester United have been dealt a huge blow in their attempts to sign Barcelona defender Samuel Umtiti, reports Spanish news outlet Diario AS. (h/t the Manchester Evening News)

The Red Devils have been in hot pursuit of Samuel Umtiti, who joined Barcelona from Lyon in 2016 and has established himself as one of the best defenders in Europe. He played a crucial role in France’s World Cup triumph last year in Russia, forming a strong partnership with Raphael Varane at the heart of the defence.

However, according to Diario AS (h/t Manchester Evening News), Serie A giants Juventus have an agreement to sign the French centre-back, whose departure will free up the path for Ajax’s Matthijs de Ligt to join the Catalan giants.

Umtiti was on the sidelines for five months this season due to a knee injury and in his absence, Clement Lenglet has formed a good understanding with Gerard Pique in the Barcelona backline. And despite signing a new contract last June, he could leave the Camp Nou in the summer.

Big Blow for Manchester United?

Missing out on Umtiti to Juventus will be a body blow for United. The Red Devils’ defenders have had an inconsistent 2018/19 season, with Victor Lindelof the only member to emerge with some credit.

We have leaked goals for fun this season and a commanding, elite central defender is an absolute necessity in the summer if Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s men are to compete for the title. Umtiti represents that as a World Cup winner and a crucial cog of Ernesto Valverde’s Barcelona.

Read more: Former Manchester United assistant manager urges club to sign this 20-year-old midfield dynamo

United have been linked with a host of expensive centre-backs, but only time will tell who we end up signing in the summer transfer window.