Antonio Conte failed to take Chelsea to the Champions League last season as his side finished 6th in the points table. Lack of UCL football is certainly going to affect the club’s chances of signing top class players this summer but that has not stopped them from scouting for some of the finest stars in Europe. One such player, they are now interested in is Clement Lenglet.
Having made a name for himself in his three years stint in Ligue 1 with Nancy, the 22-year old moved to Spain with Sevilla in 2017 and has been the first choice CB for the club ever since. He has already made 47 league appearances for the club and has established himself as potentially one of the best defenders at his age in Europe.
He was previously linked with a move to Barcelona, while Manchester United have also been desperate to sign for over a couple of weeks now. However, reports now claim that Chelsea have joined the race for his signature. With a €35m release clause in his current contract, Lenglet will not be expensive, so is he an option Chelsea should consider?
Known for his calm and composed approach to defending, the 22-year old is a confident youngster, not afraid to take on his man. He is hardly fazed by the big occasion, has already got the better of even the best stars in La Liga and is learning by the day. He is adept at playing out from the back and is usually productive with his passing.
He can also find his man from distance, helping set up counter attacks. But what makes him one of the best is his concentration and positioning inside his box. He is aware of his surroundings, though is not strong in the air, rarely gives opponents chances to beat him in the air inside his penalty area.
He is yet to break into the French national side but made 51 appearances across all competitions last season, including the game against Manchester United where they knocked the English giants out of the UCL last season.
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He has been impressive in almost every game, showing constant progress. He is certainly ready for the next step in his career and Chelsea will be front-runners, as they can offer more game time than Barcelona or Manchester United.
The Blues are not expected to stick with David Luiz at the back next season while Gary Cahill is no longer a long-term option. Antonio Rudiger has not done enough to be a first choice next season. This will leave Lenglet fighting with Andreas Christensen for a first-team spot alongside Cesar Azpilicueta, solving Chelsea’s CB problems for years to come.
