Manchester United given Samuel Umtiti hope as Barcelona forced to wait until summer to seal new deal due to FFP
Frenchman has a £53.4million release clause in his current contract which expires in the summer of 2021
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MANCHESTER UNITED could swoop for Barcelona defender Samuel Umtiti with the Frenchman forced to delay extending his contract with the La Liga leaders, according to reports.
Umtiti has a £53.4million release clause in his current deal which expires in the summer of 2021.
Barca are keen for the 24-year-old to put pen-to-paper in order to raise that figure as part of the deal.
But they are being forced to wait until July 1 so they don't fall foul of Uefa's Financial Fair Play laws.
The Catalan side splashed out £145million on Philippe Coutinho in January, leaving the club's hands tied in future deals.
And it could pave way for United boss Jose Mourinho to make a move and bolster his defence.
Umtiti has been linked with a switch to Old Trafford in the past and the Red Devils are willing to offer him a substantial pay rise.
Barca are obviously keen on keeping hold of their key asset who has made 26 starts in all competitions this campaign.
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And Goal suggest that the club and player have already come to a gentlemen's agreement ahead of a potential new deal in the summer.
Barca chiefs want it done before the World Cup.
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The thinking behind that is Umtiti could pick up more suitors should France have a big showing in Russia this summer.
But until the new deal is official, Manchester United still have hope of snatching the player from Barca's grasp.