Umtiti to Man Utd, De Ligt to Barcelona? Get ready for the superstar centre-back transfer merry-go-round

Samuel Umtiti played a pivotal role in Barcelona's domestic double last season before helping France win the 2018 World Cup in Russia.

So, why would the Catalans even consider letting him leave?

Well, the main reason is Clement Lenglet, who has proved an even bigger hit at Camp Nou than Barca expected after joining from Sevilla last summer.

The 23-year-old Frenchman has moved ahead of his injury-prone compatriot in the pecking order to partner Gerard Pique at the heart of the Blaugrana defence.

Consequently, Barca, who have a lot of money tied up in the upcoming redevelopment of Camp Nou, are willing to listen to offers for Umtiti to help fund this summer's recruitment plan, which includes the signing of another centre-half...

... And Barcelona hope that new centre-half will be Matthijs De Ligt.

The Ajax captain is considered the game's next great defender, coveted by both Manchester City and Juventus.

However, having already wrapped up a deal for De Ligt's team-mate Frenkie de Jong, Barca are confident that they will also soon seal a deal for elegant but tough 19-year-old centre-half.

The transfer fee is likely to rise above €70m, but even though De Ligt is not yet the finished article – as his performance against Germany last weekend underlined – the Blaugrana believe that the youngest player in history ever to play 100 games for Ajax is Pique's natural successor.

Where De Ligt ends up could affect Milan Skriniar's future.

The Slovakia international has been a revelation since joining Inter from Sampdoria for just €28m in the summer of 2017 and he was the subject of a €55m bid from an unnamed club last January.

It is widely believed that Manchester City were the mystery party and Pep Guardiola's side could well rekindle their interest in the 24-year-old should they miss out on De Ligt.

However, according to Mital Halis, who works for the agency that represents Skriniar, Barca and Real Madrid are now leading the chase for the Slovak's services.

Of course, should Barca land De Ligt, there interest will end but Madrid could well be in need of a new centre-half this summer...

... That's because Raphael Varane has stunned everyone at Real Madrid by considering a move away from Santiago Bernabeu.

The France international may not generate as many headlines as his prolific and outspoken central defensive partner Sergio Ramos, but he is the superior defender and, at 25, was expected to take on an even more important leadership role in the coming years.

However, Goal understands that Varane expected even greater responsibility and status at Madrid after playing a pivotal role in his country's World Cup triumph last summer.

The transfer talk may just be a power play on the part of the Frenchman's representatives to secure their client a lucrative new contract but the news of his unrest means that several clubs will now be considering testing the waters with a lucrative bid...

Manchester United would certainly be interested in Varane should he become available, given their ongoing defensive issues.

However, the Red Devils have several options under consideration, not just France duo Varane and Umtiti.

United were particularly keen on Leicester City centre-half Harry Maguire after his impressive exploits for England at Russia 2018 and even though Jose Mourinho has since been replaced at the helm by Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, that interest has not gone away.

The fee could well prove a significant stumbling block, though.

Leicester reportedly requested £75m for Maguire last summer and that asking price is unlikely to have fallen in the interim, given the 26-year-old is still playing well and under contract until 2023.

Given the astronomical figures involved in trying to sign a player from a Premier League rival, Man Utd must have deep regrets over failing to persuade long-time transfer target Diego Godin to move to Old Trafford.

The Uruguay international turned down a move to Manchester last summer in order to see out the final year of his contract at Atletico Madrid.

Despite interest from several clubs, including United and Juventus, who made a last-ditch bid to convince Godin to move to Turin on a free this summer, the 33-year-old is now poised to move to Milan.

Inter CEO Beppe Marotta has already confirmed that a deal is close, with Godin said to have undergone a medical in January, and the veteran's arrival at San Siro would be quite the coup for the Nerazzurri, particularly if Skriniar does depart.

Godin may be 33 but his potential departure would nonetheless be a hammer blow for Atletico, given the role the Uruguay international has played in their success under Diego Simeone.

Worryingly, Stefan Savic could also be lured away from the Wanda Metropolitano this summer, with the Montenegro international of interest to Juve.

The 28-year-old has, of course, played in Italy before, having kickstarted his career at Fiorentina after a frustrating spell at Manchester City.

However, Juve are only likely to make a move for this cut-price alternative if they fail to land their primary defensive target De Ligt or their back-up option...

Juventus believe that Benfica sensation Ruben Dias represents an excellent alternative to De Ligt.

The academy product is just 21 years of age but has been a near-ever present at the back for the Eagles this season and has also started Portugal's last eight games.

It is no secret that Old Lady's defence is in dire need of rejuvenation, with Juve still relying on iconic trio Giorgio Chiellini, Leonardo Bonucci and Andrea Barzagli, with Daniele Rugani having failed to progress as hoped.

However, United, almost inevitably, are also tracking Dias, meaning we could be set for a transfer tug-of-war between two giants of the club game.

If United are looking for older heads but at lower prices, then Tottenham should probably be Ed Woodward's first port of call.

Granted, Spurs supremo Daniel Levy is a notoriously tough negotiater, adept at extracting extortionate fees out of interest parties.

However, the fact of the matter is that both Toby Alderweireld and Jan Vertonghen will be out of contract in 2020, while the former has a £25m buy-out clause that comes into effect this summer.

The Belgium duo are sure to attract the interest of not only United but also every club mentioned so far and, at 30 and 31 respectively, they will know that the summer represents their last chance to join one of Europe's elite.

Kostas Manolas may also be thinking it's a case of now or never in terms of earning a move to one of the game's true superpowers.

The man who knocked Barcelona out of last season's Champions League is still only 27 but will hardly be enamoured with the prospect of missing out on next season's tournament, with Roma currently fifth in Serie A.

Indeed, only last summer Manolas admitted, "It’s only natural you want to play for the biggest clubs, like Barcelona, Manchester United, Paris Saint-Germain and Bayern Munich."

Not all of those sides will be interested but the Greece international is a very attractive proposition for anyone looking to significantly strengthen their defence – particularly Juventus – given his buy-out clause is just €36m.

It would take at least three times that amount to persuade Napoli president Aurelio De Laurentiis to part company with his most prized possession, Kalidou Koulibaly.

Indeed, only last summer the producer turned down a €70m offer from Chelsea for the France-born Senegal international, who has since signed a contract extension until 2023.

Koulibaly is settled at the San Paolo and Napoli have no desire to sell but De Laurentiis has shown in the past that he is always open to letting star men depart if the price is right.

That would probably mean a world-record fee but then, after Van Dijk, there is arguably no more imposing centre-half in world football right now.

There was a time when Jerome Boateng and Mats Hummels were considered among the game's very best defenders, but now they have effectively been deemed surplus to requirements by both Bayern Munich and Germany.

Alongside club-mate Thomas Muller, the defensive duo have been told that their international careers are over by Joachim Low.

In addition, both Boateng and Hummels are likely to be offloaded by Bayern this summer, with Hernandez and fellow Frenchman Benjamin Pavard imminently arriving at the Allianz Arena.

Their best days may well be behind them, but both Boateng and Hummels are still only 30 and could prove excellent value for money for any club looking to sign an experienced centre-half with a proven track record of success.

Their days in Bavaria certainly look to be numbered, with the pair set to become major players in the summer's superstar centre-back transfer merry-go-round.