Jose Mourinho is set to make a shock bid for Barcelona's defender, Samuel Umtiti this January window after he had been left unsatisfied with his defensive options and the poor level of efficiency they had put in following last weekend's defeat to Chelsea, according to reports.

The fact that the Portuguese would not count on the duo of Phil Jones and Chris Smalling to stay free of niggling injuries might equally had instigated the move, leaving him with just Eric Bailly and Victor Lindelof in the center of defence.

The latter had largely failed to justify the £31 million outlay on him last summer and Mourinho is hoping Umtiti would be willing to cease the opportunity to move to Manchester United, as per reports from the Mirror.

It is also understood that the Frenchman's release clause from his Barcelona contract might prove a stumbling block, with the amount being set at £53 million pounds (approximately N24.9 billion) and the Catalan giants would look to use it as a pre-requisite in order not to entertain offers for the 23-year old.

Mourinho had singled out Real Madrid's Varane as the suitable option for his Red Devils side but with the deal having been scuppered last transfer window and with the defender going on to become a mainstay for Zinedine Zidane's side, Mourinho has been forced to look elsewhere, thus now turning attentions to the Yaoundé-born defender.

Emmanuel Chinaza

Photo Credit : fcbarcelona.com