Arsenal will reportedly return to sign Barcelona defender Samuel Umtiti this summer as Mikel Arteta searches for more defensive cover.
The Gunners have invested in Ben White and Gabriel Magalhaes in the last two summer transfer windows and that is one reason they have improved in this campaign.
However, Rob Holding is the only serious cover they have for both centre-backs, and they need more options for that position.
The Gunners expect William Saliba to return from his loan spell at Olympique Marseille in the summer, but The Daily Star claims they are still in the market for another centre back.
It then claims they could move for Umtiti, who was close to a January move to the Emirates, only to break his toe.
The France international is available for transfer as Barca bolsters their options at the back.
They will be happy to offload him to Arsenal, and this could see him join Arteta’s men inexpensively.
Just Arsenal Opinion
Umtiti has struggled to be in his best form at Barca recently partly because of persistent injury problems.
This should also be enough reason for Arsenal to consider him too risky to sign.
We need players that will make instant contributions to our team when they join the club, and it doesn’t seem we can achieve that with the former Lyon player.
As unlikely to happen as the Couthino rumor that continues to resurface.
Umtiti is nothing more than a giant band-aid with a player nestled inside. Waiting for him to sprain an eyelid and miss several weeks on the DL.
I don’t know where you got the idea that we were close to signing him in January,since he has refused to leave Barca and turned down several offers from clubs as he wants to see out his contract.
Umtiti is way over the hill. It would be a crazy signing. Shite we have Saliba for FREE….he is ours!!! What is the matter with the Ego-Man Arteta. Why was he so immature not to able to deal with Saliba and Guendouzi. What a weak manager!
Arteta’s version of leadership tends to be highly centralized around himself as the manager, good or bad time will tell.
The captain’s have shown little leadership on the pitch; or the type of leadership many of us were used to with Adams and PV anyway.
Rarely if ever do you see our named captain get on a player after mistakes or for lacking effort. I was shocked watching the spuds and Newcastle game, wondering who is leading the players on the pitch?
Why isn’t the captain intervening and stopping this rot on the pitch? Why isn’t he getting into players for this trash we are watching?
We lack an old fashioned captain at this club, a leader on the pitch who gets more or something at least out of struggling teammates.
Holding costed us….honestly