Barcelona loanee Clement Lenglet addresses his future at Tottenham Hotspur
Clement Lenglet joined Tottenham Hotspur on a season-long loan deal this summer. There is no option to buy mentioned in the France international’s contract, which means he will return to Camp Nou next summer.
However, that doesn’t mean Spurs cannot visit the negotiating table for him once again. The fact that it’s an initial loan deal with no option to make the move permanent, it’s not wrong to presume that he is a stop-gap signing before the Lilywhites scour the market for a long-term option.
Alessandro Bastoni and Milan Skriniar were two Inter Milan defenders linked with a move to Spurs before they signed Lenglet on loan. From the Frenchman’s comments, however, it looks like he’s not averse to staying here beyond 2023.
Speaking an interview with the Times (Subscription Required) [h/t Fabrizio Romano], he addressed his future at the club and said:
“There isn’t an option to buy in my contract but we’re in October. We have to wait… I have to be good on the pitch and help the team. Maybe if everything is ok, we will speak…”
He has been a good option to have in defence, especially whenever one of our first-choice defenders is out. He is more of a natural centre-back than left-back-turned-centre-half Ben Davies – although the Welshman has done very well down the left-hand side of our three-man backline.
He has played in seven games across competitions but while the 27-year-old is a good option to have, it can be argued that Spurs are better off signing a truly world-class defender who has what it takes to lead our backline and automatically become our best centre-back.
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Eric Dier has filled in the role of a leader very well since Jan Vertonghen’s departure. However, it’s time that the Lilywhites go out and bring in a truly elite name at the back. If Lenglet stays after we sign a new world-class defender, then keeping him here for longer than this season would make more sense.
