Manchester City are looking at Barcelona defender Samuel Umtiti as a potential target to strengthen their centre-back options, according to reports in the French media.

The Citizens will, though, be joined by Manchester United and Chelsea in the race to sign the 26-year-old when the January transfer window opens.

Umtiti has fallen behind Clement Lenglet in the pecking order at Barcelona, and while the defender is reluctant to leave the Catalan club, he may be forced to in order to get more first-team football.

The centre-half has been plagued by knee problems over the past couple of years, but the player is said to be confident that he will get back to 100% fitness in the next two months.

City boss Pep Guardiola has said that the club do not plan to sign anyone in January but if Umtiti does come on the market, he would certainly be a player worth considering.