Tottenham Hotspur have reportedly begun talks with Barcelona defender Clement Lenglet ahead of a proposed two-year loan deal.
Lenglet has been a member of the Barcelona squad since his transfer from Sevilla in 2018. The 26-year-old has been an integral part of the defence since his arrival, however, only made 21 league appearances last season.
Now, it seems Lenglet is prepared to move away from Barcelona with a number of Premier League clubs interested.
According to Spanish outlet CCMA, Tottenham have already started discussions which would see Lenglet move to London for two years.
Given Barcelona’s financial situation, they will be offloading a number of first-team players this summer.
A two-year loan deal would take Lenglet’s wages off their books, which could help them in this scenario.
Lenglet still has four years left on his current deal, meaning a permanent move could prove expensive for Spurs. Therefore, a two-year loan deal may be the best option for all parties involved.
The French centre-back was also on the radar for Newcastle, Arsenal and Everton. However, Tottenham now seems the most likely destination for Lenglet.
Spurs have also proven they are capable of pulling off solid signings this summer.
Their top-four finish helped to land Ivan Perisic on a two-year deal. The Croatian international will join his new teammates in July, once his Inter Milan contract has expired.
Clement Lenglet the right man for Spurs
It has been no secret that Spurs want to improve their defence ahead of next season. The signing of Perisic, as well as strong links to Djed Spence, suggested that the club were focused on full-backs.
Nevertheless, the addition of Lenglet would be a major boost for the central defender department. With experience in the Champions League, he could help Antonio Conte progress through the competition.
At 26-years-old, he is also coming into the prime of his career. A two-year loan deal could see Spurs get the best years out of the French international.
Spurs also conceded seven more goals than Chelsea in the Premier League, and 14 more than Man City and Liverpool.
If Conte wants to build on his fourth-placed finish, the defence is clearly an area that needs some improvement.
