---
title: "Chelsea, Barcelona battle West Ham for Umtiti"
canonical: "https://readwestham.com/2016/06/14/chelsea-barcelona-battle-west-ham-umtiti/"
type: "post"
language: "en-GB"
author: "Michael Oliver"
section: "West Ham News"
published: "2016-06-14T10:24:27Z"
modified: "2016-06-14T10:24:27Z"
---

# Chelsea, Barcelona battle West Ham for Umtiti

European giants Chelsea and Barcelona have reportedly joined West Ham in the race to sign defender Samuel Umtiti from Lyon this summer.

According to the [Guardian](https://www.theguardian.com/football/2016/jun/14/football-transfer-rumours-chelsea-barcelona-battle-for-samuel-umtiti?utm_source=dlvr.it&utm_medium=twitter), both Chelsea and Barcelona have made their interest known in the France U21 international in recent weeks.

Umtiti was called up to the France squad for Euro 2016 due to injuries to the likes of Aymeric Laporte and Raphael Varane, not to mention the ongoing drugs saga revolving around Mamadou Sakho, but is actually yet to made his debut for the national side.

![Paul Gilham/Getty Images Sport](https://media.readwestham.com/readwestham/2016/06/539257918.jpg)

The 22-year-old was a key performer for Lyon this past season, [and was linked with a move to West Ham](https://readwestham.com/2016/05/31/west-ham-lead-race-to-sign-defender/) earlier in the summer, but they would do well to beat the likes of Chelsea and Barcelona to his signature.

Umtiti is just one of four Lyon players to be linked with a move to West Ham this summer. Yesterday it was claimed that Slaven Bilic was [eyeing a move for their Algerian playmaker Rachid Ghezzal](https://readwestham.com/2016/06/13/west-ham-linked-move-ghezzal/).

The 24-year-old scored eight times last season and recorded another eight assists and has just one-year left to run on his current contract but has also been linked with the likes of Juventus, Napoli and Liverpool.

![Valerio Pennicino/Getty Images Sport](https://media.readwestham.com/readwestham/2016/06/481746330.jpg)

Last week it was reported that the Hammers were [considering a club-record £20m move for Nabil Fekir](https://readwestham.com/2016/06/07/west-ham-club-record-move-nabil-fekir/) as well. The French forward tore his ACL last season after netting four times in their opening four Ligue 1 games but made his comeback in April and will be back to 100% for the start of the season.

News broke yesterday that West Ham had [launched a £32m bid to sign Alexandre Lacazette](https://readwestham.com/2016/06/13/west-ham-make-32m-bid-lacazette/) as well from Lyon – that’s more than double the club’s current transfer-record which stands at £15m which they paid Liverpool for Andy Carroll.

However, it’s believed that [Lyon rejected that offer](https://readwestham.com/2016/06/13/west-hams-32m-lacazette-bid-rejected/) and are holding out for a fee nearer £40m to part ways with their star striker. The Hammers have not given up hope on landing the French international who has scored 20+ goals in each of the last three seasons and hope to find a middle ground with the Ligue 1 club.