Spanish publication Sport claim Barcelona are eyeing Sevilla centre-back Clement Lenglet this summer should they part with Samuel Umtiti, with The Daily Mail in turn mooting Manchester United as potential candidates to sign the France defender.

But there is an obvious question here for United to answer; why take part in a summer centre-back merry-go-round, when they could cut out the middle man and sign Sevilla's 22-year-old defensive prodigy themselves?

Of course, Lenglet lacks the same experience as Umtiti, who is on course to lift a La Liga title this season, has already featured in the latter stages of the Champions League and in the final of a major European tournament - representing Les Tricolores at Euro 2016. In comparison, Lenglet is still awaiting his first senior cap for France.

But the 6 foot 2 centre-backs has been one of La Liga's breakthrough acts this season and particularly earned plaudits for his ability contain Romelu Lukaku's physical threat during Sevilla's two-legged Champions League tie with the Red Devils.

Although he ended up on the losing side against Bayern Munich in Tuesday's Champions League quarter-final, the ninety minute provided yet another endorsement of Lenglet's exciting potential, demonstrating the raw attributes to be a key defensive talent at a club of Manchester United's stature.

Clement Lenglet's stats from 2-1 defeat to Bayern Munich

The former Nancy defender made the joint-most interceptions, while completing the second-most clearances and winning the third-most aerial duels of any player on the pitch against Bayern. But these days, quality on the ball is almost as important as defensive nous for centre-halves and Lenglet fared well in that regard too, completing 89% of his passes.

Add in a release clause of £26.23million (€30million), and we return to our original question; should United pay big for Umtiti - who Sport claim could cost double that aforementioned sum - or swoop for Lenglet instead? Let us know by voting below...

[ad_pod ]