Clement Lenglet has secured an agreement to join Atletico Madrid, although Los Rojiblancos must still agree on a transfer fee with Barcelona for the 29-year-old defender.
According to an update by Spanish journalist Ruben Uria, Clement Lenglet is the subject of interest from Atletico Madrid. The Colchoneros are keen on signing a centre-back in the summer transfer window and have set their sights on the Barcelona defender. And the 29-year-old has secured an agreement to move to Civitas Metropolitano in the coming weeks.
Clement Lenglet and his recent woes
Clement Lenglet has enjoyed the highest of highs and the lowest of lows since joining Barcelona from Sevilla in July 2018. The Frenchman took little time to establish a foothold in the first-team squad at Camp Nou and became the first-choice centre-back ahead of Samuel Umtiti.
However, after a solid start to life as a Barcelona player, his stock gradually dropped, and he became a peripheral figure in the 2021/22 season. The Blaugrana considered selling the 29-year-old in the 2021 summer transfer window. However, no club showed interest in a permanent deal before Tottenham Hotspur completed a season-long loan deal.
Another loan deal followed last summer, with Aston Villa snapping him. However, the French defender was not a regular for the West Midlands outfit, managing only 2,071 minutes of game time across 25 appearances across all competitions. Aston Villa decided against a permanent transfer, and Lenglet recently returned to Barcelona.
Move across La Liga on the horizon?
Clement Lenglet has featured in Barcelona’s pre-season campaign and will likely be available for the Joan Gamper Trophy tie with AS Monaco. However, Barcelona will look to part ways with the Frenchman before the summer transfer window shuts down, having previously considered terminating his contract. His next destination might be Atletico Madrid.
Atletico Madrid’s interest in securing Clement Lenglet’s services is understandable. While the Colchoneros have signed Robin Le Normand from Real Sociedad, they still need another centre-back, as Axel Witsel is in the twilight of his career, while Jose Maria Gimenez is the only other recognised centre-back in the first-team squad. Lenglet is thus a viable target, with the 29-year-old securing an agreement to join Atletico Madrid.
The French defender is also a target for Villarreal. However, after securing an agreement to join Atletico Madrid, he will hope Barcelona will find a common ground with Los Rojiblancos regarding the transfer fee.
