Barcelona willing to sell United target Samuel Umtiti

Barcelona are open to selling Manchester United target Samuel Umtiti in the January transfer window. (h/t Metro)

Umtiti joined Barcelona in 2016 and quickly established himself as a regular in the Catalan defense. Injuries however have limited the player to just 22 appearances in the last two seasons.

The 26-year-old is currently behind Gerard Pique and Clement Lenglet in the Barcelona hierarchy and has made just 4 appearances in La Liga this season. (h/t Metro)

The defender who won the World Cup with France has been beset by knee and ankle injuries. Barcelona have reportedly decided to sell the player as quickly as possible.

United face competition from North London clubs Arsenal and Tottenham Hotspur for the player’s signature.

Ole Gunnar Solksjaer has preferred to partner Harry Maguire and Victor Lindelof at the heart of the United defense this season. With Maguire ,Axel Tuanzebe, Eric Bailey and  Marcus Rojo out injured and given Phil Jones unreliability, United face a crisis in defense.

Umtiti’s contract with Barcelona runs until 2023, however, the player can reportedly be bought for as little as £20 million.

Although injury prone, the French defender is a solid defender and can help shore up the United defense that has been prone to more than one mishap of late.

With Arsenal and Tottenham also facing a rebuild in defense, United will have to move quickly to secure the player.

More Manchester United News

• Manchester United could end up paying £70million for Sean Longstaff
• Maddison and Grealish earmarked to bring life to Man United’s midfield
• What Would Represent a Positive Season for Ole Gunnar Solskjaer From Here?

A winner of the ‘Legion of Honour’, Umtiti has won both the Under-20 and the senior World Cups with France. He has made 31 appearances scoring 4 goals, most memorably the winner in the World Cup semifinals in 2018 against Belgium.