Barcelona are considering allowing Samuel Umtiti to leave the club on loan this season, with Arsenal one of the teams in for him.

Mundo Deportivo report that Samuel Umtiti wants to continue playing for Barcelona, but the club don’t feel they can rely on him after his recent injury problems. As a result, they’re looking to bring in alternatives, which could push Umtiti out.

Barcelona are aware they’re unlikely to pull of a straight sale at a decent value in the current market. As a result, they’re considering a loan and a purchase option for any prospective buyers. They think this will give the player a chance to prove he’s worth the investment.

That list of potential buyers reportedly includes Arsenal, West Ham and Everton from the Premier League. Olympique Lyonnais, Marseille and Rennes also hold interest from Ligue 1.

A loan with an option to buy would suit Arsenal very well, as with most clubs in Europe at the moment. Very few have the funds for bids worth tens of millions following all the COVID-19 disruptions this season.

But the Umtiti links to Arsenal have been around since before he even joined Barcelona. We’re certainly at the point where you have to take them with a pinch of salt.