Everton approach Barcelona for Samuel Umtiti’

Everton are in  contact with Barcelona over a potential deal for Samuel Umtiti before the end of this summer’s transfer window.

The 27-year-old, who has two years left to run on his contract at Camp Nou, has been strongly linked with a move away from Barcelona this summer amid the club’s financial issues.

Umtiti was not in the squad for his side’s first La Liga match of the new season last weekend, and it does not appear that he is in the plans of head coach Ronald Koeman this term.

According to The Express, Everton have launched an enquiry for the Frenchman in the hope of bringing him to Goodison Park over the next couple of weeks.

The report claims that Umtiti is one of a number of first-team players that the Catalan outfit are attempting to offload before the end of the transfer window.

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The centre-back, who has also previously been linked with Manchester United and Arsenal, has scored twice in 132 appearances for Barcelona since arriving from Lyon in July 2016.