In a recent report, Sport stated that AS Roma have launched a Є15m offer for Barcelona defender Clement Lenglet this summer. It is understood that the French centre-back wants to stay with the Catalan outfit and fight for his place at the Nou Camp next season (via Sport).
Lenglet’s Impressive Numbers At Catalonia Last Season
Lenglet was a solid performer for Barca last season as he continued to give a good account of himself at the centre of Ronald Koeman’s defence. He caught the eye by producing a handful of solid defensive displays in Spanish football. The French defensive ace scored one goal and picked up ten yellow cards in 48 matches for the Catalan giants in the previous campaign across all fronts.
The 26-year-old established himself as a dominant presence on the defensive end of the pitch and did well to average 1.1 tackles, 1.0 interceptions and 2.0 clearances per game in La Liga football. He was even accurate when distributing possession from inside his half after he completed 92.1% of his attempted passes in the Spanish top tier (stats via whoscored).
Lenglet even managed to help Barca win the Copa del Rey last season which goes to show how important he has been for Koeman’s side over the past 12 months. However, the Catalans are in the midst of a financial crisis, so they could be tempted with a chance to cash in on the Frenchman in this off-season.
Should Barca Let Lenglet Go This Summer?
Lenglet has proven his worth as a reliable defender at the Nou Camp as he can time his challenges well to secure the back from the opposition. He also doesn’t take too many risks with his clearances and is proficient at playing his way out from the back which makes him a perfect fit for Koeman’s style of play at Barcelona.
Therefore, the Catalan side should only think about letting Lenglet leave if they can bring in a suitable replacement ahead of the new campaign. Otherwise, Koeman should consider retaining the services of the Frenchman even if it means that he has to sell off some of his other players to reduce the club’s wage bill this summer.
At 26, Lenglet is playing some of the best football of his career and has still got a contract with Barca until the summer of 2026. With all things considered, the Catalans would be wise not to sell him on the cheap. However, if Roma decides to meet Barca’s demands, Koeman should not stand in Lenglet’s path as the player is good enough to taste even more success in Italian football in the coming seasons.
