Renewing Umtiti's deal is better than signing a replacement

The problem Barcelona have today with Samuel Umtiti is a problem that could have been avoided if the board sped things up. It was just a question of following the movements on the market, especially in the Premier League. Liverpool paid 85m for Van Dijk. City paid Athletic's 65m buy-out clause for Aymeric Laporte. Enough to show Barca they should move quickly. They didn't and now are suffering the conserquences. Various English sides, including Jose Mourinho's Manchester United, have offered the French defender triple his wages to join them, something they could achieve by stumping up his 60m euro buy-out fee.

Barcelona renewed Gerard Pique's deal in January to 2022, raising his clause to 500m, and that was the moment to deal with Umtiti too. Now defenders are being paid as much as the forwards are. Umtiti arrived at Barca in 2016 at 22 years old for 25m euros, without much international fame. He adapted quickly and well. A year later it was clear he was the ideal partner for Pique. He was a transfer that fit the three Bs (bueno, bonito and barato - good, attractive and cheap). In his second season he has continued developing, performing at a magnificent level and is a clear starter. 

Now he has offers from elsewhere. He wants 9m euros a season after tax, which is 18m euros for Barca, a level that would make him one of the best paid players inthe squad. What can they do? It's clear nobody is irreplaceable, but also it would prove more expensive to sign a fitting replacement than to raise his salary. After seeing what Dembele and Coutinho cost, it won't be easy to find a defender for under 60m euros and the new player would ask for a similar salary to what Umtiti wants anyway. Umtiti wants to stay and he showed it after the goal he forced against Roma, kissing the badge in a message to the board. Barcelona have to raise their offer and Umtiti should accept a deal which gives him part of his improved offer in bonus for titles won. If there is no deal, it's clear both sides will lose out. if there is, it's good for Barca and good for Umtiti.