FC Barcelona have several players out on loan in different leagues throughout Europe, but the player whose season is turning out to be quite interesting is the Frenchman Clement Lenglet.
Barcelona tried to offload the defender throughout the last summer, but after being unable to find a permanent suitor for him, the Catalans decided to send him out on loan to the Premier League side, Aston Villa.
This loan did not take off in a spectacular fashion, as the French defender had zero Premier League minutes up to 22nd December. Unai Emery was set with his Diego Carlos-Pau Torres pairing in the center of the defense, and Barcelona even contemplated changing clubs mid-season for the Frenchman to get him more prominence.
However, as SPORT has noted, Lenglet’s season has taken an about-turn since the injury to Pau Torres in December. Emery decided to replace the Spaniard with the Frenchman for the match against Sheffield United, and Lenglet has started all seven games since then.
Aston Villa have got three wins, three draws, and two defeats with Lenglet on the pitch, having conceded eight goals in eight matches. These numbers, while not too charming, are still acceptable for a side that is currently fourth in the Premier League.
Emery publicly declared his wish to retain the Frenchman when reports of Barcelona looking to change his clubs in January were broken out. The Aston Villa coach believed Lenglet could still be of help to him, and this has been proven right in the last month.
Things might change once Pau Torres returns to full fitness after his injury. He was included in the squad list for the recent FA Cup game against Chelsea; however, the Spaniard remained an unused substitute on the bench, and Lenglet got another chance to keep showcasing his talents and raising his demand higher in the upcoming summer market.
