BARCELONA flop Samuel Umtiti is reportedly set for a loan move to Italian minnows Lecce.
The defender is out of favour at the Nou Camp after several injury-plagued seasons.
And Fabrizio Romano claims Umtiti is now on the verge of a move to Serie A with newly-promoted Lecce.
Last season’s Serie B champions have endured an awful start to the new campaign.
They were first knocked out of the Coppa Italia by Cittadella before losing league games to Inter Milan and Sassuolo.
And club chiefs hope Umtiti will be the man to revive their fortunes as he prepares to undergo a medical this week.
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Arsenal were linked with a deal earlier this summer.
Newcastle also retained interest before moving for Lille’s Sven Botman.
The 28-year-old has been at Barcelona since 2016 after leaving Lyon for £20million.
Umtiti’s Nou Camp career started well before injuries took a grip.
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In six years he made just 133 appearances, and featured just ONCE last term.
World Cup winner Umtiti’s last France cap also came in 2019.
And despite winning two titles with Barcelona, this summer saw the defender drop to sixth-choice in his position.
It is hoped Umtiti can recapture his old form while in Italy.
But it is highly unlikely he’ll be able to force his way into Didier Deschamps’ plans for the winter World Cup in Qatar.
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The move can still be seen as a major coup for Lecce, who fought off competition from Olympiacos.
Umtiti had also been close to joining Rennes, but the deal collapsed when he failed a medical.
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
