The £75 million of Virgil Van Dijk to Liverpool have become a major cause of concern for Barcelona.
Liverpool recruited Van Dijk from Southampton by making the Dutchman the most expensive defender in world football and Barcelona are living in fear that a series of top Premier League teams can come after their centre-back Samuel Umtiti.
Umtiti joined Barcelona in June 2016 for a fee of €25 million which is nothing short of a bargain. But that steal of a deal could be a major headache for Ernesto Valverde and his management. Umititi’s current contract has a buyout clause of €60 million – which is now nothing especially after the Van Dijk transfer.
Both Manchester United and Manchester City are interested in signing the 24-year-old centre-back and if Barcelona do not increase that release clause then it will become very tough for them to stop Umititi from moving out of Spain.
And Spanish publication Marca are now reporting that Barcelona are in the process of offering a new and improved deal to the French international. The deal which is set to be tabled in the coming few weeks will see a significant rise in the buyout clause as well as a wage hike.
Manchester United and Manchester City are eyeing a move for the centre-back who is out of action with a hamstring injury until February.
