Barcelona outcast on the radar of former club as he plans a summer exit

The winter signings Ferran Torres, Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, and Adama Traore are still settling into life in Spain, the club are already working on arrivals for the summer. Andreas Christensen and Franck Kessie have already agreed to a switch if reports are to believed.

However, the incorporation of so many new names must come alongside a comparable number of departures. One such player poised to leave the club in June is Samuel Umtiti.

According to reports from Mundo Deportivo, the Frenchman is already working on an exit from Barcelona.

Lyon are said to be interested in his signature but are not completely convinced by the player. His injury record and poor fitness is the main reason for the Ligue 1 side to vacillate.

The centre-back has only participated in one league game with Barcelona this season which was against Osasuna in December. Constant injuries and a lack of rhythm have marred what was thought to be a bright future. Most recently, Umtiti suffered a fracture in training and underwent surgery in January.

The Frenchman signed a new contract with Barcelona just two months ago, which saw him take a wage cut of 10%. The new deal also has a clause through which the club can unilaterally terminate his contract in 2023.

Barcelona have been trying to sell Umtiti for close to two years now. The board made an effort even in the winter transfer market, but the deal fell through after his injury.

A return to France seems the most likely option for the World Cup winner at the moment. Umtiti could be an ideal replacement for 33-year-old Jerome Boateng in the Ligue 1 side. If the deal were to go through, he could join Jason Denayer as the first choice defender for Peter Bosz’s team.