---
title: "Manchester United: Club very, very interested in Barcelona defender Samuel Umtiti"
canonical: "https://www.footballtransfertavern.com/manchester-united-club-very-very-interested-in-barcelona-defender-samuel-umtiti/"
type: "post"
language: "en-GB"
author: "Uways Nisar"
section: "Manchester United Football Club"
published: "2019-07-31T13:35:43Z"
modified: "2019-07-31T13:35:43Z"
---

# Manchester United: Club very, very interested in Barcelona defender Samuel Umtiti

**Manchester United are very, very interested in Barcelona centre-back Samuel Umtiti as a backup to Harry Maguire, according to [Le10 Sport](https://le10sport.com/football/mercato/exclu-mercato-fc-barcelone-manchester-united-pret-a-foncer-sur-umtiti-467328?utm_source=dlvr.it&utm_medium=twitter) [(via Sport Witness)](https://sportwitness.co.uk/man-united-interested-centre-back-prepared-put-e50m-table/).**

It is being reported by the [French publication](https://le10sport.com/football/mercato/exclu-mercato-fc-barcelone-manchester-united-pret-a-foncer-sur-umtiti-467328?utm_source=dlvr.it&utm_medium=twitter) that the Old Trafford giants would be willing to put down a bid just short of the Catalan club’s valuation of the France international.

However, Manchester United aren’t the only club in the north-west interested in Umtiti, with rivals [Manchester City](https://le10sport.com/football/mercato/exclu-mercato-fc-barcelone-manchester-united-pret-a-foncer-sur-umtiti-467328?utm_source=dlvr.it&utm_medium=twitter) also said to have made an enquiry for the 25-year-old.

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

The interest in Umtiti comes after a hold up in negotiations with [Leicester City](https://www.eurosport.com/football/transfers-3/2018-2019/paper-round-harry-maguire-losing-patience-with-leicester-over-manchester-united-move_sto7393515/story.shtml) for Maguire, which is said to have the player feeling furious.

With the holdup in negotiations with Leicester City, having a contingency plan is beneficial for the club. It seems the former Olympique Lyonnais man forms part of a centre-back target list. Just last week the club were said to have made a bid for Benfica centre-half [Ruben Dias](https://www.90min.com/posts/6421235-man-utd-see-bid-rejected-for-benfica-star-ruben-dias-as-red-devils-eye-harry-maguire-alternatives), as well as having been linked with moves for West Ham United’s [Issa Diop](https://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/manchester-united-transfers-gossip-diop-16483960) and Napoli’s [Kalidou Koulibaly.](https://www.thesun.co.uk/sport/football/9576666/man-utd-koulibaly-maguire-alternative-napoli-leicester/)

Given Ole Gunnar Solskjaer side’s [poor defensive record](https://www.tablesleague.com/teams/manchester_united12/) last season, reinforcements are a must. However, the Frenchman comes with one big red flag and that is his recent injury history. In the last two seasons, Umtiti has missed [40 games](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/samuel-umtiti/verletzungen/spieler/126540), 28 last season and 12 in the 2017/2018 season.

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

While Manchester United definitely need reinforcements in defence, Umtiti is ultimately not the man for them. [Maguire](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/harry-maguire/verletzungen/spieler/177907), [Koulibaly](https://www.transfermarkt.com/kalidou-koulibaly/verletzungen/spieler/93128), and [Dias](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/ruben-dias/verletzungen/spieler/258004) all have far better injury records and would provide less hassle than the 25-year-old in that sense.

As well as Umtiti’s injury record, he doesn’t fit the mould of what Solskjaer is seemingly attempting to build at the club: buying homegrown players. Someone like Maguire fits that mould and should be chased instead.

***Manchester United fans, would Umtiti be a good alternative to Maguire? Let us know your thoughts in the comment section below!***