Paris Saint-Germain are ready to make a move for Barcelona defender Samuel Umtiti after missing out on Matthijs de Ligt.
According to Sport, Paris Saint-Germain are ready to shift their attention towards Samuel Umtiti after missing out on Matthijs de Ligt. The Barcelona defender has been identified as an ideal alternative for the Dutchman, who is still linked with a move to Juventus.
It is believed that Umtiti wants to stay at Catalonia next season but could be swayed by PSG’s interest as they will offer him the opportunity to return to his homeland. In fact, the Frenchman has specifically instructed his agents to listen to offers from the Parisians. Barcelona reportedly value him at around €60 million and that is a relatively reasonable price considering the quality of the defender.
Indeed, Umtiti is regarded as one of the best defenders in Europe, having enjoyed his time at Barcelona since joining the club back in 2016. However, the Frenchman endured a disastrous 2018/19 campaign, featuring in only 1,189 minutes of league football.
The ex-Lyon defender was often overlooked in favour of last summer’s star recruit Clement Lenglet, who is expected to retain his status as Barcelona’s first choice in central defence alongside Gerard Pique next season. Hence, a move away from the club might not be a bad idea for Umtiti as he seeks to revive his career.
Paris, in that regard, could be an ideal destination. PSG are looking for defensive reinforcements as Thiago Silva is nearing the final phase of his career while Presnel Kimpembe has been linked with a move to Premier League. That leaves Thomas Tuchel with Marquinhos and Thilo Kehrer as his only reliable defensive options, thus accentuating the need for a new defender.
Umtiti has a vast amount of experience in top flight football and his previous exposure in Ligue 1 means he is a viable target for the French champions. However, it is doubtful whether Tuchel will want to freeze out the ageing Thiago Silva just yet, meaning the Frenchman could find it difficult to get regular game-time, providing the fact that Marquinhos is a guaranteed starter in the backline. Besides, he will also have to compete with Thilo Kehrer.
At Barcelona, however, Lenglet remains his only competitor and with Pique nearing the final phase of his career, the 25-year-old could hope to become a prominent part of the Catalan defence in the near future. Therefore, staying put at Barcelona might be a more logical decision, unless he is desperate to return to his homeland. It will be interesting to see how this transfer saga takes shape in the coming weeks.
