FC Barcelona have their plans for the upcoming summer transfer window in place and would be looking to implement these plans successfully and lay the basis for sporting success in the upcoming season. However, several of these plans are highly complicated and would require a lot of effort from the club.
One such highly complicated operation that the club wants to undertake in the upcoming months is the sale of their defender Samuel Umtiti. The French center-back burst on the scene with FC Barcelona during the 2016-17 and 2017-18 seasons, as he became one of the best players in his position.
However, problems with his knees derailed what would otherwise have been a stellar career, and the Frenchman suffered from recurring injuries and lack of form ever since the end of the 2018 World Cup. His performances for the club dropped to such a level that the club was desperate to offload the player even for free in order to lighten their wage bill a bit.
It was in this context that Umtiti went on loan to Lecce in the last summer. This loan has been successful for the player, as he has regained some of his lost form, and became an important part of the Italian team’s defence. He made 24 appearances for the club and has helped the club escape possible relegation this season with his defensive contributions.
However, his position at the Italian club is not certain for the next season, and Mundo Deportivo report that the player’s former club, Olympique Lyonnais, are willing to try their luck on the defender for the next season. The French team is also ready to pay €4 million for the player and is already in contact with Barcelona for Umtiti’s transfer.
If this potential transfer to Olympique Lyonnais actually materializes, FC Barcelona would meet one of the main objectives of their summer transfer window. Offloading Umtiti would allow the club to lighten their wage bill, and thus meet La Liga’s FFP rules more easily.
