Barca could solve ‘two problems in one go’ as Man Utd offer star

Joe Williams
Donny van de Beek Man Utd
Donny van de Beek Man Utd

Barcelona are interested in taking Man Utd midfielder Donny van de Beek to the Camp Nou after being offered a loan deal, according to reports in Spain.

Van de Beek was signed by the Red Devils in September for an initial £35million but he has started just four Premier League games for the club in his debut season.

He’s largely been limited to substitute appearances and cup games under Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, contributing just one goal and one assist in 36 games.


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The Dutch international may slip further down the pecking order should Man Utd move to sign another midfielder, with the likes of Saul Niguez linked with a move to Old Trafford.

Despite Solskjaer insisting that Van de Beek’s future is at Old Trafford this season, Spanish publication Mundo Deportivo claim that he ‘is not guaranteed his continuity’ at Man Utd.

There were rumours that Van de Beek or Paul Pogba could be used in a potential deal to sign Real Madrid defender Raphael Varane, who now looks set to sign for the Red Devils.

But Mundo Deportivo insist that speculation came before news of Barcelona’s interest in Van de Beek with Man Utd proposing a one-year loan deal.

Barcelona have ‘studied the viability’ of sending Samuel Umtiti in the other direction on loan, solving ‘two problems in one go’ for the Catalan giants.

It would mean they could ‘reinforce’ the centre of midfield, after losing out to Paris Saint-Germain in the race for Georginio Wijnaldum, while getting an injury-prone player off their wage bill for a season.

The France international could only manage eight starts in all competitions last term with the centre-back recently rejecting an offer from Barca for the ‘dissolution’ of his contract.

A recent report claimed Umtiti ‘could be a perfect fit in the Premier League’ with Man Utd ‘very tempted’ and considered the favourites over Arsenal, who are ‘under construction’.

Umtiti has won 31 caps for France and was part of the Didier Deschamps side that won the 2018 World Cup and he would be a valuable player for any side if he could stay injury free.