Barcelona are determined to secure a January exit for forgotten France centre-back Samuel Umtiti, according to reports.

Umtiti, 28, was pushed towards the exit door in the summer as the Catalans looked to make drastic cuts amid a financial situation labelled “very worrying” by president Joan Laporta. The defender, however, rejected offers from Lazio, Besiktas and Nice, then a meeting with club hierarchy gained him another chance.

This has not materialised, with boss Ronald Koeman failing to hand him a single appearance in 2021/22. SPORT have reported that his employers are determined to get him off the wage bill in the winter.

Umtiti is under contract at Camp Nou until summer 2023. The World Cup 2018 winner is currently behind Eric Garcia, Ronald Araujo, Gerard Pique, Clement Lenglet and Oscar Mingueza in the pecking order.