Two days ago, Spanish outlet Fichajes.net explained Carlo Ancelotti has looked at Barcelona’s Samuel Umtiti to improve Everton’s defence in the second half of the season.
It was also stated the Frenchman wants to leave the La Liga side in the winter market.
These claims have been picked up by Sport’s online edition and they provide their own information about the defender.
Umtiti has been struggling with multiple injuries since returning to the Camp Nou after his triumph with France at the 2018 World Cup in Russia. He hasn’t featured this season and Ronald Koeman is ‘still waiting’ for his ‘final recovery’.
When discussing Everton links, Sport states there have been no contact between the parties, but it ‘could arrive in the coming days’.
Barca, on the other hand, need to raise funds through player sales, and they could also be willing to listen to offers. Sport adds it’s not clear what the former Lyon man thinks, who on more than one occasion has expressed his desire to ‘succeed at Barca’.
Everton’s interest in Umtiti is also looked at by Mundo Deportivo, who state the links first appeared in England. They claim the World Cup winner is still at the club’s exit door despite their current situation with central defenders.
After being included on the transferable list in the summer, Umtiti’s situation hasn’t changed for the winter market, suggesting he is still on the same list.
Mundo states the player’s struggle with injuries in the last two years has seen his market value drop drastically to €12m. Despite this, the Catalan club are willing to facilitate his exit because Umtiti is one of their top earners.
In order to lower the wage bill, the report explains Barcelona are willing to ‘lower the claims’ for his sale.
If Everton’s interest in a player who has not featured this season, due to fitness concerns, is genuine, they can have Umtiti for a lower price in January.
During the summer, it seemed like Barcelona were trying to tempt Everton to sign Jean-Clair Todibo, but Carlo Ancelotti’s side resisted. That seems to have been a good idea given Benfica, where he then went on loan, are already looking to offload him.
