---
title: "Arsenal: North London giants eyeing up late move for Samuel Umtiti"
canonical: "https://www.footballtransfertavern.com/arsenal-north-london-giants-eyeing-up-late-move-for-samuel-umtiti/"
type: "post"
language: "en-GB"
author: "Uways Nisar"
section: "Arsenal Football Club"
published: "2019-08-08T14:30:09Z"
modified: "2019-08-08T14:30:09Z"
---

# Arsenal: North London giants eyeing up late move for Samuel Umtiti

**Arsenal are eyeing a late move for Barcelona centre-back Samuel Umtiti ahead of the 5 pm deadline today, [according to The Sun](https://www.thesun.co.uk/sport/football/9674925/arsenal-still-exploring-possibility-of-landing-samuel-umtiti-on-loan-transfer-from-barcelona/)**

The North London club are thought to only have the option of signing the Frenchman [on loan rather than a permanent deal.](https://www.thesun.co.uk/sport/football/9674925/arsenal-still-exploring-possibility-of-landing-samuel-umtiti-on-loan-transfer-from-barcelona/)

Shkodran Mustafi could be leaving the Emirates today on either a loan or permanent deal, [according to Sky Sports.](https://www.google.com/url?q=https://twitter.com/AFTVMedia/status/1159351586969280512&source=gmail&ust=1565336346429000&usg=AFQjCNELJdV5ZwtgT70XEas2JNAr4cTFDA)

The club are also expected to complete a move for [Chelsea central defender David Luiz](https://metro.co.uk/2019/08/08/arsenal-agree-8m-deal-chelsea-sign-david-luiz-10537840/) before the 5 pm deadline today.

Links with Samuel Umtiti come following the collapse of a deal for Juventus centre-back [Daniele Rugani](https://www.thesun.co.uk/sport/football/9674925/arsenal-still-exploring-possibility-of-landing-samuel-umtiti-on-loan-transfer-from-barcelona/). It is thought that Arsenal failed to agree on a fee with the Turin-based club.

![](https://cdn.footballtransfertavern.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/07/THE-BREAKDOWN.png)

The club also lost out on a deal for[Dayot Upamecano](https://www.thesun.co.uk/sport/football/9672443/arsenal-dayot-upamecano-rb-leipzig-transfer/), with Red Bull Leipzig only wanting to sell the defender for his full release clause which stands at £92m. With Mustafi potentially leaving the club, and Laurent Koscielny having already left, Unai Emery may need to sign a second new centre-back to fill the void.

Umtiti could be the man to do just that as he has shown with Barcelona and France in the last year. The France international scored a key goal in the 2018 World Cup semi-final as the [French beat Belgium 1-0](https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/44692297).

His statistics with Barcelona were also very good, with Umtiti averaging  [94.5% passing accuracy in La Liga last season](https://www.whoscored.com/Players/89931/Show/Samuel-Umtiti). That figure wasn’t just higher than Arsenal’s current centre-back options, it was [higher than any player at the club managed in the Premier League.](https://www.whoscored.com/Teams/13/Archive/England-Arsenal?stageId=16368)

![](https://cdn.footballtransfertavern.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/07/Verdict.png)

The 25-year-old also averaged more than [63.4 passes per game](https://www.whoscored.com/Players/89931/Show/Samuel-Umtiti), also more than any other player at the club bar [Granit Xhaka](https://www.whoscored.com/Teams/13/Archive/England-Arsenal?stageId=16368). Both these statistics shows how comfortable Umtiti is on the ball, making him suitable for Emery’s passing style of play.

A mixture of defenders leaving, and Umtiti’s ability on the ball means signing the France international is a no-brainer.

***What could Umtiti bring to Arsenal? Join the discussion by commenting below…***