Manchester United favourites to sign Samuel Umtiti

Manchester United have received a huge boost in the pursuit of Samuel Umtiti with Barcelona said to be considering his sale during the summer.

The France international has been heavily associated with a move to United, who are aiming to bring fresh faces to their defence for the 2018/19 season.

According to The Express, the Blaugrana were not impressed with Umtiti's showing during the shock Champions League defeat at the hands of AS Roma, and they are already into a replacement.

The former Lyon man appears to have suffered a dip in form amid the transfer speculation, and the Catalan giants are said to be eyeing Nice's Malang Sarr as a potential replacement.

Umtiti currently has a £52m release clause on his existing deal, and his valuation could yet attract interest from other elite clubs across Europe. The Frenchman has made 79 appearances for the Blaugrana since his move from Lyon in the summer of 2016.