Arsenal Consider Signing Barcelona Outcast Clement Lenglet on Loan

According to reports in Spain, Arsenal have joined the race to sign Barcelona outcast Clement Lenglet on loan this summer. The Catalans need to remove several unwanted players from their club to bring down the wage bill before pursuing new targets.

Clement Lenglet was signed from Sevilla for a deal worth around €36 million in 2018. He played a significant role under Ernesto Valverde and Ronald Koeman but seems to have fallen out of favour with Xavi after the rise of Ronald Araujo.

Clement Lenglet, Barcelona, Arsenal — Image obtained via: football-espana.net

Moreover, with Andreas Christensen moving to Camp Nou from Chelsea this summer, it is safe to say that the Frenchman’s future seems uncertain. The La Liga giants are also considering the possibility of loaning out the defender since his gross salary is too high to attract potential clubs.

According to Spanish news source SPORT (via Daily Mail) Arsenal are interested in signing Clement Lenglet on a loan deal. The report states the defender was initially reluctant to leave Camp Nou, but seem to have agreed to go on loan after learning that he isn’t part of Xavi’s plans.

However, the Gunners face stiff competition from Tottenham Hotspur, Newcastle and Everton who all need to strengthen their defensive depth. His contract runs till 2026 and his former club Sevilla have set their sights on him as well. It would suit both the player and the clubs.

Barça have realised that selling Clément Lenglet is almost impossible because of his high salary which exceeds 10 million euros gross annually.

His departure on loan seems to be more feasible. Tottenham, Newcastle United, Everton and Arsenal have positioned themselves.

— SPORT pic.twitter.com/ZqYpiNLNDy

— Universal Football (@UniversalFTBL) May 30, 2022

Now, recent reports suggest that Tottenham have moved ahead in the race to sign the French defender. The Spurs are working on a two-year loan deal and Barcelona are looking to close the deal as quickly as possible, according to Spanish outlet Esport3 (via The Express).

Player Profile

Clement Lenglet started his senior career with AS Nancy in 2013 and got into top-flight football in 2016. He secured AS Nancy’s promotion to the top flight with a brilliant header on April 2016. During their first season in Ligue 1, teams started noticing the defender’s performances and Sevilla quickly pounced on the defender for a small fee.

Lenglet became a key player for Sevilla, making 35 appearances that season and played a significant role in Sevilla’s Champions League win over Manchester United. Barcelona needed a replacement for retired legend Carlos Puyol and looked at the French international as the ideal candidate. Barça triggered Lenglet’s release clause of €35.9 million euros in the summer of 2018.

The long term injuries to Samuel Umtiti meant Lenglet was promoted to the starting eleven pretty quickly at Barcelona. He grew better and rose through the pecking order, becoming a constant squad player in the 2018/19 La Liga season where Barcelona went on to win the La Liga title. The 26-year-old has made 160 appearances for the Catalan giants (stats via transfermarkt), winning the Copa Del Rey and the Spanish Super Cup to date.

🇫🇷 @clement_lenglet is celebrating today! 🎉

Happy 25th birthday to @FCBarcelona's defender! 💙🔝❤️ pic.twitter.com/SNjEwm8lnV

— LALIGA English (@LaLigaEN) June 17, 2020

His technical ability vastly overshadows the need for physicality. Clement Lenglet is a great distributor of the ball, an elite tackler and very astute in his awareness and positioning – all traits which make him the ideal candidate for Arsenal. As a centre-back and the last line of defence, the Frenchman provides superb central cover for his goalkeeper.

The defender is more than willing to put his body on the line to block shots, crosses, passes, and generally anything the opposition throws at him. However, last few seasons have been a rough patch for the defender, plagued with injuries and poor performances. The 26-year-old centre-back is certainly capable of becoming world-class but a rebuilding project like Barcelona will not suit his ambitions.

Verdict:

Lenglet is a very classy individual who keeps away from unnecessary controversy. He lets his skills do the talking on the pitch. Arsenal’s defence has been plagued with injuries during significant parts of the 2021/22 season with the likes of Takehiro Tomiyasu and Kieran Tierney being absent. It impacted the Gunners’ performances, ultimately culminating in the end of their Champions League qualification hopes.

The Gunners need squad depth in the centre-back position as Gabriel, Rob Holding and Ben White are all prone to injuries. While Clement Lenglet has around 15 caps for France and 200 club appearances in all competitions, it will be difficult to see Arsenal spend money on him with his defensive liabilities and injury problems. William Saliba seems to be a good option that is already available to Arteta as compared to the expensive Frenchman.

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