In a recent report, Express stated that Barcelona centre-back Clement Lenglet could be sold off this summer in a bargain deal with Arsenal. It’s also understood that the Catalan giants remain in no position to be picky in this transfer window and are on the verge of offloading several players.
Lenglet’s Campaign With Barcelona This Season
Lenglet has failed to establish himself as a regular starter under Xavi’s starting XI, as he ended his campaign with disappointing numbers. The 26-year-old has appeared in 27 matches for the Spanish outfit this season, grabbing one assist across all fronts.
The French defender has not been a dominant figure in the backline as he has only averaged 1.0 tackles, 0.6 interceptions and 0.9 clearances per game in the La Liga.
However, he has been impressive with distributing possession as he has completed 90.8% of his attempted passes in the Spanish first division (stats via whoscored).
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Should Barcelona Boss Xavi Hernandez Cash In On Him This Summer?
The France international is a decent performer at the centre-half position as he can make a few crucial interceptions and doesn’t mind clearing the danger from the opposition’s attack. He is not afraid to put his foot into a tackle and does well to stop the opposition in their tracks.
He excels at playing his way out from inside his half and can also distribute the ball well based on his passing average. The centre-half fits the bill of a modern ball-playing defender. However, he lacks discipline and focus, which is primarily the reason for his decline recently.
Coming off the bench in most of his appearances, Lenglet has done well to provide cover for the defence. At 26, the defender’s prime years are still ahead of him and he can improve with each season if he’s promised regular game time.
As Xavi attempts to revamp the squad, and Barcelona owners are forced to balance their books if they wish to delve into the market this off-season, Lenglet remains likely to be sold off for a decent transfer fee. He could play in the Premier League next season as he finds himself under Arsenal’s radar with the Gunners under heavy talks with the Catalan side.
