Samuel Umtiti has a release clause of £54m (Picture: Getty)
Samuel Umtiti has a release clause of £54m (Picture: Getty)

Manchester United are interested in Barcelona defender Samuel Umtiti and can sign the Frenchman by meeting his £54million release clause.

Jose Mourinho is keen to strengthen his squad and, though he’s pessimistic about deals being done in January, the 54-year-old expects ‘two or three’ signings in the summer.

Umtiti, 24, is a first-team regular at the Camp Nou but his £52,000-a-week wages fall well short of his status within the squad and he wants his salary doubled to stay at the club.

However, Barcelona currently spend around around 84% of their revenue on wages and need to bring the figure down if they’re to make signature signings like Philippe Coutinho and Antoine Griezmann in the summer.

Umtiti is a regular for France (Picture: Getty)

Liverpool’s £75m move for Southampton ace Virgil Van Dijk will inflate prices for defenders in the market and Umtiti is one of the few top centre-backs available on the market.

According to the Sun, Barcelona fear United will meet the defender’s release clause and are trying to renegotiate the figure to keep him in Spain.

Umtiti is only likely to sign a new deal if the La Liga giants meet his wage demands and he’s aware he could more than double his salary in the Premier League.

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