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Tottenham insiders believe defender Clement Lenglet could become their ‘best option’ at the centre of a back three, according to Alasdair Gold.
The Lowdown: Lenglet joins…
The Frenchman, after a few seasons in the Barcelona wilderness, joined Spurs on a season-long loan deal from the Catalans last summer.
As part of sporting director Fabio Paratici’s bid to strengthen Antonio Conte‘s defence, Lenglet put pen to paper on a move to N17, but he has endured a mixed campaign.
The 27-year-old has been criticised for some questionable performances this Premier League season and reports suggest Spurs want to strengthen the centre-back position further this summer with other signings.
The Latest: Spurs hold Lenglet belief…
However, despite the criticism and another lacklustre performance against Wolves on Saturday, Spurs insiders believe Lenglet could star under Conte.
According to Alasdair Gold, writing for football.london, those within the club believe the former Sevilla star could become their ‘best option’ at the centre of a back three.
It’s added that they’re a big fan of his passing ability, even if Lenglet’s showing at Molineux did little to back up that theory.
The Verdict: Right call?
Lenglet’s ability as a ball-playing central defender is without question – completing a cool 87.4% of his passes out from the back this season (WhoScored).
However, the concerns lie in his ability to thwart opposition attacks, with pundit Jamie O’Hara calling Lenglet an ‘imposter’ after a recent Champions League horror show against AC Milan.
The £145,000-per-week ace also ranks below the likes of Eric Dier and Cristian Romero in a lot of key defensive metrics – with the two Spurs stars averaging a higher rate of blocks, interceptions and clearances made per 90.
While Lenglet stands out a composed ball-player, there appears to still be work to do in terms of his defensive ability, and these next few months will be crucial in determining his future.
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