Out of favour £131,000-a-week defender Samuel Umtiti 'could end up STAYING at Barcelona this season'

Samuel Umtiti could end up staying at Barcelona as the club's fifth-choice centre-back as the club cannot terminate his contract due to legal issues, according to reports.

The Catalans are desperate to sell players this summer after president Joan Laporta announced the club's debt has risen to £1.15billion after a tumultuous summer.

Umtiti is one of the players earmarked to leave the club due to his lack of appearances in recent years, coupled with his £131,000-a-week contract that still has two more years left to run.

And according to Spanish news outlet Sport, Barcelona cannot find a buyer for Umtiti and will find it difficult to terminate his contract due to legal issues - meaning he is likely to remain at the Camp Nou for the forthcoming season.

The report adds the World Cup winner only wants to swap Barcelona for a club in the Champions League.

Only French side nice and Jose Mourinho's Roma have expressed an interest, with both of the sides not in Europe's elite competition, while fellow interested Monaco party Monaco have not had their Champions League group stage place confirmed yet.

Umtiti has played just 49 matches in the past three years for Barcelona after falling down the pecking order in Ronald Koeman's squad.

The 27-year-old, who was once linked with a move to Arsenal or Manchester United, is now behind Gerard Pique, Eric Garcia, Ronald Araujo and Clement Lenglet in the Catalans backline hierarchy.

He was not picked in the matchday squad for either of Barcelona's two LaLiga matches so far this season, despite several young players filling up spots on the bench in those fixtures.

Barcelona have until August 31 to sell Umtiti or face keeping him and his large wages on their bill until January at least.

Umtiti has been at the Camp Nou since 2016 and has made 132 appearances for the club in all competitions, winning two LaLiga titles, three Spanish Cups and two domestic Super Cups.

The Frenchman is not the only player expected to leave Barcelona this summer in an attempt to ease the club's financial concerns.

Fellow defender Lenglet has been linked with a move away despite playing 48 times for the Catalans last term.

Further up the pitch, Antoine Griezmann could move on alongside Martin Braithwaite, while midfielders Philippe Coutinho, Ousmane Dembele and Miralem Pjanic could also face the Camp Nou chop.