Aston Villa ‘not ruling out purchase’ – Emery key as club hope to sell player to Villans

Aston Villa are not ruling out buying defender Clement Lenglet on a permanent basis this summer, with Barcelona still hopeful of a deal taking place.

That’s according to Sport, who say Unai Emery is key to the operation happening as he has continued to support the Frenchman in recent weeks.

The newspaper explains that Aston Villa have gone from thinking about sending Lenglet back to Barcelona in January to ‘not ruling out a purchase’ at the end of the season.

Thanks to injuries to other players, Lenglet has found himself as a starter and even partnered Pau Torres in the last two games, despite most believing the Spaniard would replace him when he returned to full fitness.

It’s been a radical turnaround for the man on loan from Barcelona, who was struggling for gametime in the first half of the season but has now established himself as a regular under Emery.

It was the Aston Villa coach who insisted they keep hold of him in January and it remains to be seen if he insists a permanent deal is done in the summer.

Barcelona are certainly hoping that happens as they want rid permanently, with Lenglet still tied to a deal until 2026 at the Camp Nou.