Barcelona to announce the signing of Lyon’s Samuel Umtiti ‘in the next few weeks’ after missing out on all THREE of their top targets
Luis Enrique reportedly eyed up moves for Aymeric Laporte, John Stones and Marquinhos before settling for French star
BARCELONA will announce the signing of Samuel Umtiti from Lyon 'in the next few weeks', according to reports.
The La Liga champions are in the market for a new centre-back after Marc Barta joined Borussia Dortmund as a replacement for Bayern Munich-bound Mats Hummels.
Umtiti, who has been linked with Tottenham and West Ham, is currently with France’s Euro 2016 squad and has expressed an interest in moving to the Nou Camp.
Lyon have admitted they will sell the 22-year-old if he asks to leave, and claims a deal will be completed shortly.
However, the report adds that Umtiti was far from Barcelona’s top choice at the back – in fact, he wasn’t even in the top three.
It’s alleged that Athletic Bilbao’s Aymeric Laporte was Luis Enrique’s No.1 target this summer, but the Barcelona boss was priced out of a move.
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Laporte has penned a new deal which includes a whopping €50million buyout clause, and club president Josep Bartomeu could not find a way to justify meeting the fee.
Barcelona’s second choice was apparently Everton and England ace John Stones.
But the Catalans decided not enter a bidding war with Manchester City for the youngster’s signature, who will apparently cost upwards of €60m.
Enrique’s third choice was claimed to be Paris Saint-Germain’s Marquinhos.
However, the French club are said to have rejected numerous approaches for the Brazilian, including one from Barcelona.
And on top of that, PSG allegedly countered Enrique’s offer by leaking their own interest in Nou Camp superstar Neymar.