Samuel Umtiti
France defender Samuel Umtiti will prepare for this year’s tournament in Italy instead of Barcelona after moving on loan to Lecce. Barcelona said the newly promoted Serie A club had taken Umtiti for one season with no option to buy. The Spanish side has been unable to register Umtiti’s France teammate Jules Koundé since signing the defender from Sevilla last month for a reported fee of about 50 million euros.
Eric Bailly
Manchester United defender Eric Bailly has joined Marseille on a season-long loan with a view to a permanent move. United said the deal ‘includes the possibility of a permanent transfer at the end of the season.’ Marseille will pay all of his wages over the course of the loan and will be obliged to buy the Ivory Coast international for 6 million euros ($6 million) if he makes a certain number of appearances and the French team qualifies for the Champions League.
