Barcelona: Barcelona have agreed a euro 25 million (Dh101.8 million) move for France defender Samuel Umtiti from Lyon, the Spanish giants announced on Thursday.
Barca president Josep Maria Bartomeu said: “Barca have reached an agreement with Lyon to sign him, but it has to be negotiated with the player.
“There’s an agreement for 25 million euros.”
Cameroon-born Umtiti, 22, is currently with the France Euro 2016 squad and looks set to win his first cap in Sunday’s quarter-final against Iceland after the suspension of Adil Rami.
Although he is relatively inexperienced at the top level, Umtiti’s focus, calm, technical ability and pinpoint passing as well as a sense of team spirit means he is widely expected to fit in at a top team.
Bartomeu added: “He is with the French team, completely focused. When the competition is over, we’ll make him come, pass the check-up and do all the required procedures to sign him up.”
Meanwhile, Brazilian star Neymar will extend his contract with Barcelona in the coming days, Bartomeu insisted Thursday amid rumours over his possible transfer to another team.
“In the coming days we will confirm the renewing of Neymar’s contract for the next five years,” Bartomeu said.
“Club lawyers and Neymar’s lawyers are in the process of wrapping up.”
Neymar, who joined Barcelona in 2013 from Brazil’s Santos in a deal which has haunted all concerned because of alleged hidden payments, is under contract until 2018.
But the 24-year-old prolific Brazil striker has also played brilliantly for the Catalan club as part of a much feared attacking trident alongside Lionel Messi and Luis Suarez.
Speculation has mounted, however, around whether or not the slender forward would extend his stay or make another lucrative move, with Paris Saint-Germain, Real Madrid, Manchester United and Manchester City named among possible interested clubs.
“I read that there are many clubs interested in Neymar. It’s normal they are but Neymar has never said he wants to leave Barca, just the opposite,” Bartomeu said.
“Neymar wants to continue at Barca and Barca wants Neymar to continue with us.”
