Transfer Centre

Aston Villa interested in signing Barcelona defender Clement Lenglet?

By Darren Plant, Senior Reporter | 29 August 2023

Villa interested in signing Barcelona defender Lenglet?

Aston Villa allegedly become the latest club to identify Barcelona defender Clement Lenglet as a potential addition ahead of the closure of the summer transfer window.

Aston Villa are allegedly toying with the idea of making an approach for Barcelona defender Clement Lenglet.

The West Midlands outfit have enjoyed a productive start to the season in both the Premier League and Europa Conference League playoff round.

As well as collecting six points from three games in England's top flight, a 5-0 first-leg triumph over Hibernian on the continent has put Unai Emery's side on the brink of progressing through to the group stages.

However, the Spaniard has been left in a position where he and Villa need to be active during the closing days of the summer transfer windows courtesy of long-term injuries suffered by Tyrone Mings and Emiliano Buendia.

Cashing in on academy graduates Aaron Ramsey and Cameron Archer has generated in excess of £30m, funds that can be put towards at least one new addition.

Aston Villa manager Unai Emery reacts on July 15, 2023 © Reuters

Nevertheless, given the vast outlay of new signings during the past three transfer windows, looking for value for money in the market may be the strategy favoured by club officials in the short term.

According to transfer expert Fabrizio Romano on Twitter, Villa are considering whether to make a move to sign Lenglet, presumably on a permanent deal.

The Frenchman is currently back at Barcelona having spent the 2022-23 campaign on loan at Tottenham Hotspur, where he made 32 starts and three substitute outings in all competitions.

Initially, the expectation was that the 28-year-old would sign for Spurs on a full-time basis, but a transfer has not materialised as anticipated.

Barcelona's Clement Lenglet pictured on December 8, 2021 © Reuters

Barcelona remain eager to cash in on the left-sided centre-back, though, as they bid to further improve their well-documented financial issues.

In recent days, Lenglet has been linked with a return to Sevilla, who he represented between January 2017 and July 2018, and it has been alleged that is his preferred destination.

That was before Villa seemingly added Lenglet to their shortlist of potential additions, and Barcelona are said to be expecting the player to leave before Friday's transfer deadline.

Although moving to Saudi Arabia has been an option for Lenglet, he is said to have no interest in moving to the Middle East at this stage of his career.