According to journalist Gerard Romero (as per Sport Witness), Tottenham have rekindled their interest in Barcelona centre-back Clément Lenglet.
The Lowdown: Lacking game-time
The Frenchman has been struggling for game-time this season, having made just eight appearances so far in the Catalan club’s 2021/22 LaLiga campaign.
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When Xavi was handed the managerial reins, there were rumours that this was about to change. However, this has not been the case; the defender has played just twice since the club legend’s arrival as manager.
Despite rarely featuring domestically, the 26-year-old has played well when utilised in the Champions League, leading his team in offsides won per game (1.3 averaged across his four appearances).
Lenglet arrived in Catalonia in 2018, joining from Sevilla in a deal worth £32.3m. Having won 15 caps for France, he has been on display on the European stage, and some clubs have enquired about the £97,000-per-week defender following his lack of game-time at Camp Nou.
The Latest: Spurs rekindle Lenglet interest
According to Romero (as relayed by Sport Witness), Tottenham have declared their interest in Lenglet, adding that the Lilywhites were interested in signing him in the previous summer transfer window, when Nuno Espírito Santo was at the helm.
The journalist tweeted that Spurs have gone 'back to the charge for Lenglet in the winter market', adding that 'the player did not want to go to England in the summer and rejected the Spurs offer'.
He claims that Tottenham even made an offer for the 26-year-old, but the Barcelona player personally rejected it. Ramón Planes, the Blaugrana’s former technical secretary, had held talks with Spurs, with the Lilywhites likely looking to push a deal for Lenglet.
The Verdict: Better options elsewhere
Lenglet’s reputation has seen a devastating decline over the past two years. In the summer of 2019, the Frenchman had a market value of £54m. This figure has rapidly decreased since, dropping to a meagre current valuation of £16.2m.
Recently, the 26-year-old has faced widespread criticism after being pictured laughing with Bayern Munich’s Robert Lewandowski after Barcelona's Champions League exit. Spanish pundit Jota Jordi slammed Lenglet over that incident, exclaiming that he 'has no shame'.
Given Antonio Conte’s no-nonsense attitude, this demeanour could seriously annoy the Italian coach, so maybe it is better for Spurs to look for a new defender elsewhere.
In other news - The ‘Next Buffon’: Long-term Tottenham target seeks exit; Ancelotti claimed he’s ‘special’