Barcelona Transfer News: Samuel Umtiti Exit Talk Amid Manchester United Rumours

Barcelona reportedly fear centre-back Samuel Umtiti is "closer and closer to leaving" the club, and Manchester United look favourites to snap him up.

According to Javier Giraldo in Sport, the Camp Nou outfit are not prepared to meet Umtiti's demands to be bumped up into the second-tier salary level at the club, alongside the likes of Andres Iniesta and Luis Suarez, and his Barca future is "in danger" as a result.

His current contract with the Blaugrana runs to 2021, but his release clause is set at a remarkably affordable €60 million (£52.6 million), and United manager Mourinho has reportedly been in contact with Umtiti to offer him what Barca will not: a deal worth a net €9 million (£7.9 million) a year.

The France international only joined Barca from Lyon in June 2016, but he quickly established himself as one of the finest young centre-backs in Europe.

The 24-year-old has been a crucial part of Ernesto Valverde's first team in 2017-18 as Barca have gone unbeaten in 29 La Liga matches and conceded just 13 goals.

Given that arguably United's best centre-back, Eric Bailly, has endured a number of injuries this term and Chris Smalling and Phil Jones remain unreliable, it is little surprise Mourinho has reportedly been courting Umtiti.

As noted by Yahoo Sports's Andrew Gaffney, his release clause is needlessly low and United have more than enough financial clout to take advantage of Barcelona's carelessness:

However, Barca writer Rafael Hernandez is convinced the defender will end up staying at the Camp Nou, and his agent is driving a hard bargain over his new contract:

United will hope that is not the case. The potential partnership of Bailly, 23, and Umtiti could be hugely beneficial for United over the next decade given the talent of both players. 

And it would be a huge statement from the Red Devils to poach one of Barca's best young players at a relatively cheap price.