Barcelona set their price for star defender amid Premier League interest.
Barcelona are doing a lot of maneuvering when it comes to their finances. The club have already reached an agreement with the squad to cut their wages due to the financial fallout from the coronavirus.
Things are going to be different for the foreseeable future and that includes the transfer market. When the window opens again, the Catalans are going to be busy trying to shed wages and players.
One of those players is likely to be a World Cup winning defender.
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According to Diario Sport, Barcelona have set a price tag of €50 million should a team come for the Frenchman.
The club’s plan is to raise approximately €130 million through player sales and they believe that Umtiti would be highly-sought after player.
Premier League sides like Chelsea and Arsenal have shown interest in the past. Both of these teams need an upgrade in defense and Umtiti would be a good fit.
Chelsea are going to be revamping nearly their entire back line and have reportedly talked to his representatives.
Arsenal, on the other hand, have been a calamity in defense for a while now and Umtiti would be a clear upgrade and a defender who is comfortable playing out from the back.
He would be a good signing for Mikel Arteta and would mean that they would no longer have to rely on the likes of David Luis or Shkodran Mustafi.
However, Quique Setién does have Umtiti in his plans so whether or not he leaves will come down to the manager. Since he arrived, he’s utilized him more often than Clement Lenglet. But he’s still recovered the form he showed when he first arrived from Lyon and before his knee injury.
His dip in form as a result of the injury and his decision to opt for conservative treatments instead of surgery left the club feeling frustrated because when he came back, Umtiti would play a game and then sit out the next because of that injury.
While the club’s plan is to sell him, should he string along more consistent performances if play ever resumes, Barcelona may be inclined to keep him. After all, they need quality defenders as well.