Europa Conference League combatants Aston Villa have been forced back into the market late in the current summer transfer window after star defender Tyrone Mings has been ruled out for the entire 2023-24 season after suffering an ACL injury, with the club turning to a possible deal for Barcelona’s Clément Lenglet.
The 28-year-old recently spent the 2022-23 season on loan at Tottenham, helping Spurs reach the knockout stage of the Champions League while appearing 35 times in all competitions, but now has a chance to return to the Premier League as Villa are scrambling to find a replacement for Mings.
Per Fabrizio Romano, Villa has opened talks with Barcelona over a deal for the French international defender but faces stiff competition for the Beauvais-born player as multiple exit options are available to the player.
Aston Villa and Barcelona in talks over Clement Lenglet deal, as revealed earlier today — negotiations on. 🟣🔵🔛 https://t.co/7e5l8SW662
— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) August 29, 2023
Lenglet is fully expected to depart the Spotify Camp Nou before the window closes after falling completely out of favor with boss Xavi Hernández, but will likely not struggle to find a new landing spot somewhere in Europe’s top-five leagues after a spotty four seasons with the club.
Villa boss Unai Emery could certainly value his experience given the club has already begun its Europa Conference League campaign with a 5-0 thrashing of Scottish side Hibernian last week in the first round of qualifying, with Lenglet’s 54 appearances in Europe offering much-needed experience in the back for a club that has not featured on the continent since 2010-11.
The absence of Mings has thankfully not yet been properly felt after the opening loss to Newcastle United on matchday one after Villa trounced Everton 4-0 the following weekend while following it up with a 3-1 win against Burnley on Sunday.
