Barcelona Transfer News: Latest on Samuel Umtiti's Contract, Exit Rumours

Barcelona are reportedly considering letting Samuel Umtiti leave for Manchester United, as his poor run of form has made the club more comfortable with the idea of a transfer.

The Catalan press has written about the ongoing contract negotiations between the Blaugrana and Umtiti at length recently, and according to Mundo Deportivo (h/t Sport Witness), it is believed the Frenchman has pushed too far with his demands.

Sport (h/t Sport Witness) previously reported Barcelona's UEFA Champions League exit meant there was less of an urgency to the negotiations. Umtiti's current deal contains a buyout clause of €60 million (roughly £52 million), and United are reportedly willing to meet that valuation.

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Reports have gone back and forth between Barcelona wanting to keep the defender at all costs and the club considering alternatives. Telefoot (h/t AS) suggested RB Leipzig's Dayot Upamecano as a potential replacement, and per Mundo Deportivo, Sevilla's Clement Lenglet is another candidate.

Keeping Umtiti at the club remains the priority, but if his demands don't come down, a sale could be an option.

His poor form of late and a lacklustre showing in a key contest against AS Roma didn't help his case:

Fans are also starting to come round to the idea of a sale:

The 24-year-old has been one of the club's standouts for much of the season, establishing himself as an elite option in the heart of the defence. Speculation regarding an improved contract was inevitable, and reported interest from United―who tend to get mentioned as suitors in these situations―strengthened his hand in the negotiations.

Sport's Albert Masnou (h/t Joe Short of the Express) reported in February the former Lyon man was using United's interest as leverage, but that was before his form took a turn for the worse.

The situation is further complicated by the buyout clause, which is mandatory in Spain. Top players tend to have enormous clauses inserted into their contracts, and until recently, that meant they were unlikely to ever be triggered.

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Neymar's move to Paris Saint-Germain changed that, however, and the rising transfer prices mean €60 million all of a sudden doesn't appear all that outrageous for a defender.

A new agreement between Umtiti and Barcelona still seems the most likely outcome, and the club's Champions League exit may actually help proceedings along. The Blaugrana are in desperate need of some positive publicity, and a big announcement regarding a renewal would do the trick.

The Catalans better move fast, however, as United―and others―will have no issues triggering the relatively low clause as soon as they can, and they won't hesitate to hand the emerging star a huge pay raise.