Tottenham Hotspur remain keen on signing 28-year-old French defender Clement Lenglet from Barcelona this summer.
A report from the Spanish publication SPORT claims that Barcelona and Tottenham have scheduled a meeting to discuss the transfer of Clement Lenglet before the friendly match that will be played between the two clubs.
The 28-year-old Frenchman was on loan at Tottenham last season, and the North London outfit are prepared to sign him permanently this summer. The 28-year-old defender joined Barcelona for a fee of around €35 million from Sevilla, and he has not been able to establish himself as a key player for the club.
He needs to move on in search of regular playing time and a return to Tottenham would be ideal for him. The north London giants need to bring in defensive depth, and Lenglet would be a useful option for them next season. The 28-year-old is reportedly prioritising joining them.
He already knows the club well from his time at Tottenham last season and should be able to make an immediate impact. A number of Tottenham defenders have been linked with a move away from the club this summer. So they will need to replace these players adequately.
Spurs are expected to sign Micky van de Ven from Wolfsburg, and they have already signed Ashley Phillips from Blackburn Rovers. Lenglet could be the third central defender to join the club this summer before the window closes.
Apparently, the 28-year-old defender is valued at €15 million, and it remains to be seen whether Tottenham are prepared to pay up. The North London outfit are hoping to sign him for a fee of around €8 million.
Barcelona are under pressure to sell the 28-year-old defender, who is not a part of their plans. Furthermore, they need to stay within the guidelines of Financial Fair Play regulations so that they can register the pending footballers as well.
Tottenham are clearly in a position of power here. So it is fair to assume that they will be able to sign the defender for a knockdown price this summer. Lenglet was recently left out of the pre-season camp so that he can orchestrate and move away from the club. So it is quite clear that Barcelona do not want him at the club next season.
Only Spurs can be linked with buying dead wood, as opposed to selling it!