OPINION Towering performances in 2017/18

After a series of high quality performances for Barcelona, it's been suggested that Samuel Umtiti might be the best central defender in LaLiga.

The notion that the youngster might even be the best in the world isn't without foundation either, and the 25 million euros that it took to prise him from Lyon is looking like a real bargain now.

Let's not forget just how poor some of the centre-backs have been at the Camp Nou over the years.

Gerard Pique and Carlos Puyol were the exception and invariably when the captain was injured, there was no one of sufficient standing to take his place, meaning the Blaugrana suffered.

Though he joined the club after Puyol's retirement, the Frenchman is cut from the same cloth.

Physical when he needs to be, but not a dirty player, his defensive attributes are many and his distribution is accurate and reassuringly measured.

Just how Barcelona like it.

In short, he is virtually the complete defensive package already, and at only 23 years of age, he still has much growing to do in a professional sense.

With Thomas Vermaelen as far out of the first-team picture as it's possible to be, Marlon Santos having been sent packing to Nice upon Ernesto Valverde's arrival at the club and Javier Mascherano getting no younger, the only real issue for the coach is what to do if Umtiti ever gets injured.

Yes, he has become that important.

With only three goals conceded in LaLiga so far in 2017/18, it's clear that his partnership with Pique works.

If there's one aspect of his game that he could perhaps improve upon, it would be his goal scoring prowess at set pieces.

Sergio Ramos has shown the importance of being in the right place at the right time for Real Madrid, though he has been found wanting in precisely the aspect of the game he is handsomely remunerated for during this season.

Look at the way he was caught out of position against Real Betis by way of just one example - and there have been others.

Umtiti wasn't the biggest of names when he joined Barcelona but he has quickly established himself as one of the best exponents in his position.

A mainstay for club and country, Barcelona would do well to raise his buyout clause before the 2018 World Cup because world class left-sided centre-backs are as rare as hens teeth, and the Catalans can ill afford another Neymar situation.

Marc-Andre ter Stegen will take the plaudits for the win at Athletic Club on Saturday night, but tip a hat to Umtiti too.