Umtiti was said to have been demanding Barcelona pay him £7.9m (€9m) a year which would make him one of their top earners. However, Nou Camp chiefs are not prepared to go that high as it

would break their wage structure. Barcelona’s desperation to tie Umtiti down is being fuelled by a need to substantially increase his release clause, as well as his quality. The current £53m

is comparatively affordable given Liverpool forked out £75m for centre-back Virgil van Dijk in January.