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Barcelona defenders Samuel Umtiti and Clement Lenglet are reportedly reluctant to leave the club despite falling down the pecking order this season.
The duo are reportedly eager to be part of Xavi Hernandez's project with the club. According to El Nacional, the La Liga club are eager to part ways with Lenglet and Umtiti this summer, as they are no longer part of Xavi's long-term plans.
Lenglet earns £70,000-per week, while Umtiti takes home £200,000, as per fcbarcelonalatestnews.com. Both French defenders are contracted with the club till 2026.
Umtiti joined the Blaugrana from Lyon in the summer of 2016 for £20 million. He immediately became a first-team regular, making 43 appearances in his debut campaign.
The Frenchman has fallen down the pecking order due to recurring injuries and the arrival of Lenglet from Sevilla in 2018. Umtiti has been on the fringes of the first team season, making just one appearance. He was heavily linked with a loan move to Besiktas in January but opted to stay. The Blaugrana subsequently extended his stay in January.
Lenglet, meanwhile, has been a key member of the Blaugrana starting lineup. However, he has been reduced to a bit-part role following Eric Garcia's arrival last summer and Ronald Araujo's emergence. Lenglet has made just 18 appearances across competitions this season.
Despite their lack of involvement, Lenglet and Umtiti are keen to be a part of Xavi's project. The Blaugrana were languishing in ninth place in the league when Xavi arrived late last year. However, they are now third in the standings and are also in the UEFA Europa League quarter-finals (against Eintracht Frankfurt).
Barcelona need to part ways with Lenglet and Umtiti to create space for new signings
The Blaugrana are going through a transition under Xavi. The team is seemingly heading in the right direction as Xavi rebuilds the roster. According to club president Joan Laporta, as per news18.com, the reigning Copa Del Rey winners could sign a defender, midfielder and a striker this summer.
However, the club lack the funds to back Xavi in the transfer window. They will, therefore, need to part ways with fringe players like Umtiti and Lenglet.
