Samuel Umtiti has started in only eight league games for Barcelona this season as a knee injury has forced him to spend more time away from the pitch.
The World Cup winner with France has been struggling with knee problems since the end of the last season and has missed fixtures from last September to February, barring an appearance against Atletico Madrid in November.
According to Calciomercato, Manchester United ‘like’ the 25-year-old and Umtiti ‘can leave’ the Spanish champions in the summer, if they decide to bring in Matthijs de Ligt from Ajax in the summer.
De Ligt has been heavily linked with a move to Barca and their president Josep Maria Bartomeu has already confirmed his side’s interest in the 19-year-old Dutchman.
The France international signed a new contract last June and his current deal at the Camp Nou will expire in 2023.
Another report from Calciomercato claims Paris Saint-Germain’s Layvin Kurzawa is ‘targeted’ by the 20-time English champions.
The PSG left-back has started in five matches across all competitions this season and has less than 18 months left on his contract at Parc des Princes. The Ligue 1 winners have offered an extension, but his limited playing time may force him to make a move elsewhere.
Luke Shaw has established himself as the first choice left-back. Matteo Darmian is expected to leave the Premier League club in the summer and if United sign Kurzawa, the latter can be a back up for the England international at Old Trafford.
Whilst both claims do feel somewhat regurgitated, the Umtiti transfer idea could grow. In Spain, the idea of Barca signing De Ligt was first seen as fanciful but is now gaining some concrete claims, and the club will likely need money to fund it.
