Barcelona defender Umtiti a Milan target again after Kjaer surgery

With less than a month to go until the transfer window opens, Barcelona are starting to work on their strategies. They need to strengthen the attack but just as urgent is lowering the wage bill. Some players are not in the club's plans and the window is another opportunity to find them a move. That's the case with Samuel Umtiti.

The Frenchman has still not featured this season and the chance of a move to Serie A side Milan has returned to the table. It was discussed in the summer, but contact between Barça and the Italian club never went beyond a superficial level.

However, the possibility has arisen again following an injury to Simon Kjaer, who underwent arthroscopic surgery on Friday to reconstruct the anterior cruciate ligament and reinsert the medial collateral ligament in his left knee. He will be out for around six months.

Milan coach Stefano Pioli, therefore, has asked for a replacement, with Umtiti an option.

Former Barça technical secretary Ramon Planes travelled to Milan in the summer to offer several players to the club, be that on loan or permanent deals, in a meeting with Paolo Maldini. There was interest in some players, including Umtiti, but the salaries involved put Milan off.