Barcelona accept French defender may join Manchester United

Barcelona are growing fearful of Samuel Umtiti's future at the Camp Nou beyond the summer. The France international is said to have already received a contract offer from Manchester United.

According to Sport, the Catalan giants are looking into probable replacements for the former Lyon graduate with the defender having made his mind up for a fresh challenge.

Umtiti had initially planned to sign a new bumper contract with the La Liga leaders, but the club's hierarchy are supposedly reluctant to offer him a fresh deal in the near future owing to the Financial Fair Play regulations.

As a result, United are said to have expressed an interest in signing the centre-back and they are supposedly willing to trigger the £52m release clause on his contract as well as match his wage demands of £150,000-a-week.

Manchester United are currently weighing up the futures of Phil Jones and Chris Smalling, and one of the duo could be offloaded to facilitate the arrival of Umtiti.