After a tough couple of years during which he hardly played at FC Barcelona, Samuel Umtiti is going through a better period away on loan at Lecce.
Having joined the Italian minnows on a season-long temporary deal last year, the Frenchman has become a regular in the heart of the defence. He is seeing a continuity in his minutes, something which had been long lost at Barça due to injuries and poor form.
Umtiti has showcased good form in his short time at Lecce, so much so that other clubs in Italy have started to take not of his performances.
Indeed, it had been recently reported that AC Milan were looking into the possibility of a summer move for the 2018 FIFA World Cup winner.
Meanwhile, Lecce themselves are willing to keep the Frenchman at the club beyond the current season.
And now, according to Gazzetta dello Sport (h/t Mundo Deportivo), Inter Milan are the latest club to show an interest in acquiring Umtiti’s services in the summer transfer window later this year.
The Nerazzurri are set to lose Milan Skriniar at the end of the season, with the centre-half set to sign for PSG. Meanwhile, there are question marks over the future of Stefan de Vrij as well, leading to Inter seeking defensive reinforcements.
And, it seems like Umtiti is now being considered as an option to bolster the backline at the Giuseppe Meazza before next season.
Umtiti, who has played 13 times for Lecce this season, is contracted with Barcelona until 2026. There have been suggestions that the Catalans are considering keeping him at the club as an option to have a left-footed centre-back at their disposal.
However, an exit looks more likely at this point and it remains to be seen whether Umtiti will be back in Italy again for next season.
