A Beginner’s Guide to Clément Lenglet
Another of Monchi’s former buys has arrived at Villa Park with the loan signing of Clément Lenglet from Barcelona as cover for the injured Tyrone Mings.
Here’s the brass tacks skinny guide on Villa’s latest signing…
Clément Lenglet – The 5 W’s
Who?
Clément Nicholas Laurent Lenglet is a 28-year-old centre-back who came through the youth system at Nancy, before playing for the First team. Lenglet scored the goal that promoted Nancy back to Ligue 1 after a three-year absence in 2016 before ending up with Sevilla in the 2017 January Transfer Window.
Aston Villa President of Football Operations Monchi, described him as one of his best signings saying, “You look at France, you see great teams, all with potential and you find Lenglet in the second division.
“Pepe Castro, president, came to ask me about the signing. ‘Don’t the rest see it?’, he told me. I told him that for me he was great and in the first training sessions we already saw his potential.
After this Lenglet was sold to Barcelona for €36 million Euros and has spent a forgettable season at Spurs, who interestingly enough didn’t exercise the purchase offer at the end of his loan.
A French International, he’s played 15 times scoring one goal and won the Nations League with France.
What?
A 28-year-old French International, La Liga and Copa Del Rey winner, who has played a recent season in the Premier League would seem like a savvy enough loan, except like Jan Bednarek last season, this is injury cover. If Tyrone Mings hadn’t been ruled out for most of the season, Lenglet would not be coming to Villa. As it is he’s known to Monchi, knows the league’s speed, and comes with a healthy amount of European experience.
Where?
He will be back up to Pau Torres. Whereas at the beginning of the season, the debate was over how Torres and Mings would play together, the injury to Mings, means Villa are actually short a left-footed centre-back.
Lenglet will fill that void, and as a progressive passer of the ball, rather than an out-and-out defender, he will maintain the Emery style of play.
Expect him to see early action in the Europa Conference League group stage and the League Cup.
Why?
This is injury cover for Mings. With a loan and no option to buy, it is a relatively good deal for Villa. When Tyrone Mings returns to full fitness on schedule, he can be sent back to Barcelona next season.
The fact his player profile matches Pau Torres will allow the continuity of tactics and systems for Aston Villa throughout a possible long season of European and domestic action.
Worries?
While a loan negates a number of waste of money worries, there are the rumoured wages he is on at Barcelona. Diario Sport, reports Lenglet’s Barca wages are between €230,000 – €307,000 per week and Fabrizio Romano has said Aston Villa are responsible for 75% of these for the season. While player wages are rarely reported accurately, Lenglet will be on a decent salary.
The main concern is you can’t look past the fact that he played in a Tottenham Hotspur team, that finished below Villa last season and they didn’t want to keep him
It’s hardly a glowing reference seeing Spurs aren’t blessed with world-class centre-backs. But at least his 26 appearances will mean he is used to the pace of the league and he was deemed good enough by Antonio Conte to play seven times in Spurs Champions League Campaign.
Saying that, Spurs fans criticism has been while he is comfortable on the ball, at times, he was found lacking in pace.
Put simply, this is a moderately expensive insurance policy to keep Pau Torres from getting burnt out or to step in if he gets injured or suspended.
If Lenglet can recapture his Sevilla form, which earned him the transfer to Barcelona, it could turn out to be a pleasant surprise.
UTV
Follow Phil on Twitter here – @prsgame
Follow MOMS on Twitter & Facebook & Threads
