Man Utd Confident Of Pulling Off Summer Swoop To Sign £53m La Liga Star

The January transfer window in now closed so it’s time to look at those deals that didn’t get over the line and those being lined-up for the summer. Today, Man Utd are linked with Samuel Umtiti…

Manchester United are lining-up a summer swoop for Samuel Umtiti and Jose Mourinho is confident of luring the £53m Barcelona defender to Old Trafford, according to reports in Spain via TeamTalk.

United have been tipped to further strengthen their defensive options this summer as Victor Lindelof has failed to establish himself following his £30m move from Benfica while doubts remain over Chris Smalling and Phil Jones.

Mourinho is understood to want a top class centre-back to partner Eric Bailly next season and Umtiti is one of a number of players who’ve been linked with United over the past few months.

It looks like the Red Devils are ready to push ahead with their pursuit as TeamTalk are citing a report from Don Balon that claims United will make a formal attempt to sign the French international at the end of the season.

Umtiti is still contracted to Barcelona until 2021 but the Spanish outlet says Mourinho is confident he can persuade the 24-year-old to swap the Nou Camp for Old Trafford this summer.

Barca are hoping to tie Umtiti down to a fresh contract amid interest from United as he’s become an important first team player since arriving from Lyon in the summer of 2016.

However, TeamTalk says United are ready to meet the £53m release clause that’s written in to Umtiti’s existing contract so there is little Barca could do to stop him leaving if the player wants a move to England.

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We’ll have to wait and see how things develop over the coming months but Umtiti would be an excellent addition if United could manage to lure him away from the Spanish giants this summer.