‘One man’s trash is another man’s treasure’ is a proverb that aptly describes Clement Lenglet’s current status at Aston Villa.
The 28-year-old joined the Premier League club on loan from Barcelona in early September this year on a one-year deal, but has struggled under Unai Emery.
His side is third in the league rankings, but the French defender has yet to play in the Premier League for Aston Villa this season.
Lenglet’s lack of playing time at the club has fueled speculation, with Bayern Munich and AC Milan reportedly interested in his services. However, several obstacles must be overcome if Lenglet’s winter transfer is to be successful.
The Italian job
According to Alex Pintanel, AC Milan are set to start talks with Barcelona for the on-loan defender in the coming days.
After all, they are in desperate need of a centre-back following the injuries of two important defenders and expect to sign him in January.
Milan will have no trouble persuading Lenglet, who only wants regular playing time. Negotiating in Barcelona will be no easy task either, as the Catalans have been anxious to have him off their books for quite some time.
Thus, the obstacle is in England. Lenglet’s loan with Aston Villa is set to expire in the summer of 2024.
Any transfer must thus go through the offices of Aston Villa and win their approval which is easier said than done.
The second party
Bayern Munich is the second and far larger club in the running to sign Lenglet. As previously reported, the German giants are looking for a new centre-back in January following the injuries to Matthijs de Ligt and Bouna Sarr and are interested in the Barcelona star’s profile.
Lenglet is presently worth €10 million, making him a low-cost and dependable option for Thomas Tuchel’s squad.
It remains to be seen whether the Germans will seek a permanent transfer or a loan, however such a move is unlikely to be sanctioned by Aston Villa.
Leave a Reply