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Fifth-placed club hope Newcastle will target their ‘world-class’ £21m man
Barcelona are holding out hope Newcastle United advance their interest in Samuel Umtiti as Besiktas are the only club to present a firm transfer offer.
That’s according to , who note the Black Eagles have approached the Blaugrana to sign the Frenchman on loan. But Umtiti is not showing a lot of interest in leaving the Camp Nou for Vodafone Park this month.
Umtiti has made it clear to Barcelona that he will only accept temporary moves to clubs that offer interesting projects. Yet his €9m-a-year (£145k-a/w) net salary makes most operations almost impossible to complete.
Clubs in France are interested in Umtiti returning home, but they can only cover a small part of his wage. Besiktas, meanwhile, can pay a larger percent, which puts them near the front of the queue if Umtiti accepts joining.
Barcelona will only give serious thought to accepting an offer for Umtiti to return to France later in the month. In the meantime, Newcastle remain their great hope after offering the Toon the chance to strike a deal.
Newcastle have spoken to Barcelona over Umtiti transfer for weeks
Newcastle are yet to respond to Barcelona’s offer to sign Umtiti during the January transfer window. But the Blaugrana remain hopeful the Magpies will say yes and will wait as long as they can.
Earlier reports by noted Newcastle have been speaking with Barcelona over a transfer for Umtiti for some time. also noted in December that the Toon were even mulling over a £17m permanent deal.
Umtiti joined the Blaugrana from Lyon for (£21m) in 2016 when Eric Abidal also called him ‘world-class’, via . But the 28-year-old has only featured once so far this season as Barcelona languish in fifth in La Liga.