Manchester United have reportedly lined up a summer bid for Sevilla defender Clement Lenglet, who is one of the priority summer targets for Barcelona.
According to The Sun, Clement Lenglet’s list of admirers and potential suitors for the summer keeps on increasing. Manchester United is the latest club to earmark the Sevilla defender as a target for the summer transfer window and are set to duel with Barcelona and several other top clubs in pursuit of the French Under-21 international.
Clement Lenglet is known to be an intelligent customer at the back. Lanky in build, Lenglet has been one of the best defenders in La Liga since moving to Sevilla from AS Nancy in January, 2017. The 2017-18 campaign has shown his ability to produce performances on a consistent level, which has shot the player into the limelight.
Lenglet’s ability to make a difference has also come to the fore, with the player not really contributing much attacking-wise. But, whenever he does, it is in important matches or crucial junctures in a match – something that was perfectly highlighted in Sevilla’s 3-2 win at Villarreal in La Liga, where Clement Lenglet engineered the start of the comeback early in the second half after falling behind 2-0.
Barcelona, Manchester United and a lot of other clubs have been touted as suitors for Lenglet in the upcoming summer transfer window.
Barcelona have Gerard Pique, Samuel Umtiti, Thomas Vermaelen and Yerry Mina as the options at Ernesto Valverde’s disposal. Vermaelen is sure to leave the club in the summer while Umtiti has been generating interest from other clubs and his contract standoff is really giving Barcelona a headache.
Lenglet has La Liga experience and would be an ideal addition to the lineup, with reports that the player has a €30 million release clause – a steal by current standards.
Manchester United though, have entered the race. United have Phil Jones, Chris Smalling, Marcos Rojo, Victor Lindelof and Eric Bailly as the options at the back. But, Jones and Smalling are likely to be on the chopping block, while Lindelof should be ideally given another season to prove himself in the Premier League.
?️❗️#RUMOR Barça have started talks with Sevilla defender Clément Lenglet (22) to reach an agreement and pay his buyout fee #fcblive pic.twitter.com/y0SVIcrjqh
— FC Barcelona Fl (@FCBarcelonaFl) April 15, 2018
United’s interest in Lenglet could come from the fact that their purchase of Eric Bailly has been extremely successful, with many impressed by Bailly’s ability, temperament along with his ability to hit the ground running at a club that is a notch above his former club, Villarreal.
Lenglet will have the prospect of Champions League at both Barcelona and Manchester United, which makes the choice all the more difficult. The amount of interest in the 22-year-old is generating is going to make it difficult for Sevilla to keep a hold of him, especially if they cannot guarantee Champions League football.
Barcelona or Manchester United, a summer move does seem to be in the offing for the Frenchman.
