Arsenal continue to be linked with a big money move for Barcelona defender Samuel Umtiti this summer.
The France international only signed a new contract at the Camp Nou in June, 2018 - one that is said to include a release clause of a staggering £430 million.
But he's lost his place to Clement Lenglet and reports have emerged in Spain that the Catalan giants would be willing to cash in on the 25-year-old, with Ajax centre-back Matthijs de Ligt on the agenda.
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Having already signed De Ligt's Ajax teammate Frenkie de Jong in a £65m deal, Barcelona will be looking to raise some funds with player sales and it's understood that Umtiti is one who could be sacrificed.
And there are some suggestions that Arsenal are already in contact with Barcelona over the centre-back, who is extremely close with Alexandre Lacazette following their time together in Lyon.
Reports claim that the La Liga leaders would be looking for a fee of around £70m to part company with the World Cup winner.
Arsenal are in the market for a new centre-back this summer, with the club hoping to move Shkodran Mustafi on and potentially Calum Chambers, who has spent the season on loan with Fulham.
Football.london understands as well as a central defender, Arsenal's priorities in the transfer market this summer also include a left-back, a wide attacker and a replacement for Aaron Ramsey.
But with funds set to be tight once again, however, they will need to be smart once the window opens - even if they qualify for the Champions League and despite the extra cash that will come their way from the new commercial deals with Adidas and Emirates.
Financially, that makes a move for Umtiti difficult and while it does not rule it out all together, football.london has also been told that there are major question marks over the defender's fitness - due to an injury to his left knee.
The problem has limited the Frenchman to just 13 league appearances this season and saw him sent to Qatar in December for treatment.
He returned to action in late February and did play both games for France over the international break, but sources in Spain believe the knee issue is one that could be difficult to manage.
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