Journalist: Arsenal to contact FC Barcelona about 25-year-old after Europa League final
Reporter Nicolo Schira is tipping Arsenal to rekindle their interest in FC Barcelona defender Samuel Umtiti after the Europa League final
Arsenal are set to rekindle their interest in FC Barcelona defender Samuel Umtiti after the Europa League final, according to reporter Nicolo Schira.
The Gunners are thought to be interested in signing some new defenders to improve Unai Emery’s back four ahead of the new Premier League season.
Arsenal conceded 51 times in 38 games in the Premier League last term, which contributed to their fifth-placed finish behind Chelsea FC and Tottenham Hotspur.
The north London side were linked with a move to sign Umiti last summer but a deal for the World Cup winner failed to materialise.
Arsenal will be looking to add inject some youth into their defence ahead of the upcoming Premier League season.
And Gazzetta dello Sport reporter Schira has now claimed that Arsenal are set to re-open negotiations with FC Barcelona over the possible signing of Umtiti.
Schira wrote on his Twitter page: “After #EL’s final there will be a new contacts between #Arsenal and #Barcelona about Samuel #Umtiti, who is the #Emery’s first choice for defence. They will speak about #DenisSuarez, who would like to remain with #Gunners. #transfers #AFC”
Umtiti is being widely tipped to leave FC Barcelona in the summer following a difficult season at Camp Nou.
The 25-year-old made a mere 14 appearances in all competitions in a difficult season for the French defender.
Arsenal are still reliant on 33-year-old Laurent Koscielny and 30-year-old Sokratis Papastathopolous at the back given Shkodran Mustafi’s inconsistency and Rob Holding’s season-ending injury.
