FC Barcelona are having a tremendous season defensively. However, further changes are expected in this key area in the upcoming season, with one possible addition being that of Inigo Martinez as reported previously.
There is another defender that Barcelona will have to decide quickly about, Clement Lenglet, who returns from Tottenham Hotspurs at the end of the season. Clement Lenglet was loaned to Tottenham last summer, as his performances had dipped, and his standing both among the coaching staff and the fans had hit rock bottom.
The French Center Back fared somewhat better in the Premier League, getting 1459 minutes in 20 appearances, in which he also scored a goal and gave two assists. However, the London-based club is not entirely convinced with Lenglet’s performances, and Mundo Deportivo reports that they are not planning to extend his loan or buy him.
The reports also mention the players that Tottenham are planning to replace Lenglet with, which include Gvardiol, Marc Guehi, and Bastoni. However, Guehi is reportedly Antonio Conte’s favorite to replace the departing Frenchman for now.
Thus, FC Barcelona would have further work to do, as they seem to be set with their defense, and do not have any place for Lenglet in their squad. Ronald Araujo and Andreas Christensen have firmly established themselves as the preferred center-back options for Xavi, while Jules Kounde, who is currently mostly playing at the right-back position, also has his best position in the center of the defense.
Further depth is provided by Eric Garcia, who is currently low down in the pecking order, but still can be an option in less important matches. Sevilla has been reported to be interested in the Frenchman and can provide an escape route for Barcelona to cut their losses with Lenglet.
