AS Roma have wanted to hand Kostas Manolas a new deal so that they can remove the €36m buyout clause from his contract.
During the course of the season, the defender changed his agent and is now managed by Mino Raiola and this made it difficult for the Serie A outfit to tie down one of their key players to a better deal.
According to Tutto Mercato Web, Manchester United are ‘ready to pay’ his asking price and the Italian club will look for his successor in the transfer market.
It’s claimed that Roma’s ‘dream’ is to sign Samuel Umtiti from Barcelona, but the report explains Arsenal are ‘definitely on pole’ to sign the World Cup winner.
Regarding Arsenal interest in the France international, no additional details have been provided by TMW, but they clearly feel Unai Emery’s side hold the advantage right now.
What’s interesting to note is that Barca president Josep Maria Bartomeu has refused to categorically confirm that Umtiti is not for sale in the summer.
“He renewed before the World Cup; he has four years left on his contract and there is no Umtiti issue,” Bartomeu was quoted as saying by Sport.
“He has to regain form after recovering from his injury, as we want to have him in the best form possible. He and Lenglet are two of the best left-handed central defenders and at Barça we want the best.”
There may be hope for Arsenal, but the north London club could face competition if Barcelona make Umtiti available in the summer transfer window.
