Umtiti linked with Barcelona exit

Barcelona could be set to offer Samuel Umtiti to Manchester United as they aim to raise funds for Ajax defender Matthijs de Ligt.

The Catalan club are eyeing a long-term replacement for Gerard Pique, and have identified the Netherlands international as their top target.

However, the Amsterdam club are likely to demand a similar fee to the €85million that they have recently paid the same club for fellow Dutchman Frenkie De Jong, so that will need to recoup fees elsewhere.

Umtiti moved to the Nou Camp from Lyon in the summer of 2016, and he is closing in on one hundred appearances in all competitions.

Internationally he has been capped twenty-nine times for France, scoring four goals and was part of their victorious squad at last summer’s World Cup finals in Russia.

Barcelona host local rivals Espanyol on Saturday, and the home win can be backed at a price of 1/6.