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Barcelona offer out-of-favour Samuel Umtiti to Newcastle on a potential loan deal as Eddie Howe steps up centre-back search after £30m bid for Lille's Sven Botman was rejected

Barcelona defender Samuel Umtiti has been offered to Newcastle United on a potential loan deal with option to buy.

Manager Eddie Howe wants two centre-backs and is weighing up other options after their initial £30m bid for Lille's Sven Botman was rejected.

Umtiti, who has made one appearance this season, is one of the players Barcelona want off their books so that they can register new signings. He has so far refused five other moves away from the club.

Barcelona defender Samuel Umtiti (pictured) has been offered to Newcastle on a potential loan deal with option to buy
Magpies boss Eddie Howe (pictured) wants two centre-backs in the January transfer window
The Magpies had their initialu00a0u00a330m bid for Dutch defender Sven Botman (left) rejected by Lille

The Magpies had their initial £30m bid for Dutch defender Sven Botman (left) rejected by Lille

The cash-strapped LaLiga giants need to cut their wage bill this month in order to land their targets, with Ferran Torres not yet registered despite his £55million arrival from Man City due to issues with the league's salary cap.