Barcelona loanee Samuel Umtiti has managed to rekindle his career away at Serie A side Lecce this season. And heading into the summer transfer window, the French centre-back has emerged as a target for several prominent Italian clubs.
Indeed, according to SPORT, AS Roma, AC Milan, and Inter Milan are all keen on signing Umtiti from Barcelona in the summer, while Lecce themselves would want the Frenchman back for another season.
After a couple of seasons during which he hardly played at Barcelona, Umtiti has emerged as a regular fixture at the heart of the Lecce defence in Italy. The experienced centre-half has grown into a key performer for the Serie A minnows after a slow start.
So far, Umtiti has featured 17 times in the Italian top flight for Lecce, starting 16 of those matches. He has been solid at the back and his form has led to interest from several clubs.
Indeed, Inter Milan were already said to have been showing an interest in the 29-year-old Frenchman. Now, they have been joined by both AC Milan and AS Roma in pursuit of the 2018 FIFA World Cup winner.
Roma are in the market for two central defenders as per the report and have identified Umtiti as an alternative for Evan Ndicka, who was previously linked with Barcelona as well.
Jose Mourinho’s side believe that it would be a financially feasible operation as Barça are said to be open to a transfer with a low fixed fee and large variable payments. Furthermore, his wages would also be affordable to the Italian giants.
However, they will have to battle two UEFA Champions League semi-finalists, Inter Milan and AC Milan, to sign Umtiti.
Lecce, for their part, are understood to be keen on signing Umtiti on loan for another season. However, that option is believed to be ruled out even though the Barcelona ace is very grateful to the Italian outfit for giving him a chance this season.
Barcelona have no intentions of keeping Umtiti at the club next season and all signs point towards another stint in Italy for the centre-back. Only time will tell which club he joins in the summer.
