Man Utd Close-In On £50m Deal After Mourinho Called Player To Offer Bumper Contract

The transfer window is closed but managers are working hard on their plans for the summer so we’ll bring you all the latest gossip from around the globe. Today, Man Utd are closing-in on a deal to sign Samuel Umtiti…

Manchester United are closing-in on a £50m deal to sign Samuel Umtiti after Jose Mourinho called the Barcelona defender to offer him a lucrative contract, according to reports in the Daily Mail.

Umtiti joined Barca from Lyon in 2016 and has developed in to one of the most highly-rated centre-backs in Europe having cemented himself in Eresto Valverde’s starting eleven this season.

However, the 24-year-old’s future at the Nou Camp is in serious doubt as he’s yet to sign a new contract and talks have stalled because Barca are refusing to meet his wage demands.

Umtiti still has over three years left to run on his contract but Barca are desperate to tie him down to an extension as his current deal includes a £50m release clause – which is now considered reasonable for a player of his quality.

The French international’s situation has alerted Man Utd as the Daily Mail claim the Red Devils are prepared to meet his release clause after Mourinho made the defender a prime transfer target.

Mourinho is expected to sign at least one new defender this summer with Phil Jones and Chris Smalling fighting for their futures and the United boss is seemingly keen to lure Umtiti to Old Trafford.

The newspaper is citing a report from SPORT that claims Mourinho has personally called Umtiti to offer him a contract worth £7.8m a year – which is much closer to what the player wants.

The Spanish publication suggests that Barca won’t pay anywhere near that figure so the centre-back is now expected to leave the Nou Camp this summer with a £50m switch to United on the cards.

READ MORE –> Man Utd transfer news

We’ll have to wait and see how things develop over the coming months but Umtiti would be a superb signing if United could pull it off and he could be the ideal long-term partner for Eric Bailly at Old Trafford.