After crashing out of the Champions League in the quarter-finals, Barcelona have started plans for the 2018/19 season and their aim is to improve their chances of winning Europe’s elite club competition.
Catalan newspaper Sport claims apart from signing Antoine Griezmann from Atletico Madrid, technical secretary Robert Fernandez has identified strengthening the defence as a priority this summer.
Barcelona have set their sights on signing Sevilla star Clement Lenglet and now want to “close the signing” of the Frenchman. The centre-back has been one of the standout players in the league and the work to sign him has been going on for months, according to the claims.
Sevilla are keen on retaining Lenglet and have already held talks with his representative over handing him a new deal. Sport claims his employers have made an “important offer” so that they can insert a hefty release clause in order to fend off any interested clubs. However, the meeting did not go in Sevilla’s favour.
Barcelona are in no rush to push for transfer as they have already received “OK” from the player to join them in the summer transfer window. Ernesto Valverde’s side are planning to “close the operation” in the month of June.
Lenglet is currently on a holiday and is aware that his agent will be sorting his future. He has a release clause of €30m and Barcelona are ready to pay more than his buyout clause, if Sevilla agree for the fee to be paid in instalments.
As far as Sport are now concerned, Lenglet wouldn’t be moving to replace Samuel Umtiti, he would be adding to the club’s strength in depth.
