Barca Star Asks For More Time To Think About Manchester City Move

There isn't a team in the Premier League that can get anywhere near Manchester City right now, it might be the same in Europe, but that doesn't stop Pep Guardiola wanting to add a Barcelona star to his side.

Crystal Palace managed to hold Manchester City to a 0-0 draw showing it was possible to do but it should have been more. All neutrals blasted their damn luck when Luka Milivojevic missed a late penalty that would have handed Guardiola's side their first domestic loss of the season.

Instead the moment had a feel to it that mixed Ruud van Nistelrooy's missed penalty against Arsenal and Robert Pires' dive for Arsenal against Portsmouth in the Gunners unbeaten season, both seminal moments for the 'Invincibles.'

Van Nistelrooy gets shoved after missing his penalty. Would have ended the unbeaten season early. Image: PA Images.

It's January and as well as being 14 points clear their unbelievable season can be summed up by the fact they've already mathematically avoided relegation, quite impressive so early on.

And yet Pep Guardiola is never happy and is trying to pry one of Barcelona's prized possessions from their hands.

According to French newspaper L'Equipe City have met with representatives of defender Samuel Umtiti in a bid to persuade him to make a move, something the former Lyon man is thinking about.

Umtiti has become one of Barca's most important players. Image: PA Images.

Umtiti signed for the Catalan giants in summer 2016 for just €25 million a price that looked a bargain at the time considering his showing at that summer's Euros on home soil for the Frenchman.

That price has quickly been shown to be absolute steal and his form this season, before he suffered an injury at the beginning of December, was crucial to Barca's incredible form this season.

However the 24 year-old centre back has a buyout clause in his contract at a measly €60 million, a significant amount less than Liverpool paid for Virgil van Dijk recently.

Umtiti playing for France at the 2016 Euros. Image: PA Images

City have John Stones at centre back as a ball playing defender with Nicolas Otamendi playing excellently all season. However behind that pair there remains questions about their depth.

Stones has been injured leaving the injury prone Vincent Kompany or Equilium Mangala as Otamendi's partner.

Whether there'd be room for Stones and Umtiti long time would have to be decided but for now the Frenchman is deciding whether his future lies in La Liga or the Premier League.

Topics: Manchester City, Pep Guardiola, Barcelona, Samuel Umtiti

Ryan Sidle

Ryan is a writer for SPORTbible. He covers all sport from football, formula one, cricket, rugby, tennis, athletics, mma and wrestling. He obviously hates YOUR football team and has no interest in synchronised swimming.

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