So West Ham United are seemingly in the race to sign Clement Lenglet from Barcelona this summer.
The 15-capped France international has spent the last two seasons on loan in England with Tottenham and Aston Villa respectively, and now West Ham could be his next destination.
However, there’s a big problem being caused by Barcelona, and I cannot see Clement Lenglet moving to West Ham this summer.
Julen Lopetegui is firmly on the hunt for a new central defender, and is apparently prioritising the addition of a top-class centre-back.
That’s no surprise at all given how porous our defence was last season, whilst Kurt Zouma and Nayef Aguerd might not be at the London Stadium beyond the end of this summer (Claret and Hugh).
Zouma is shot to bits physically, whilst Aguerd isn’t suited to the Premier League one little bit.
And now the Hammers could move for someone who has impressed in the Premier League over the past two years.
West Ham want to sign Clement Lenglet
Lopetegui is clearly very keen indeed to improve his central defensive ranks at the London Stadium before the start of the new season.
West Ham have already been linked with the likes of Nehuen Perez and Max Kilman this summer, but now another target has emerged.
According to Spanish publication Sport, the Hammers are keen to bring Lenglet to the London Stadium this summer.
Lopetegui is firmly on the hunt for a new centre-back, after last season’s woeful record of 74 Premier League goals conceded.
I will be vital for the Hammers to exit the summer transfer window with a stronger defensive unit than what we have now.
And Lenglet seems to have been identified as an option for Lopetegui. However, there’s a big problem.
That’s because the Frenchman is owed a large chunk of his salary from Barcelona – wages that he deferred during Covid to help out the Catalan club.
Now Barca are trying to release him from his contract, so he won’t be able to claim those wages back.
Clement Lenglet earns around £150k-a-week (Capology), so he’s obviously not keen to do that, and West Ham won’t be paying him anything like that either.
The Barca defender won’t be joining the Hammers this summer, I have no doubts about that.
READ ALSO:
One thing Luis Guilherme said during first official interview as a West Ham player will stun you
West Ham transfer update with 23-year-old now certain to move to London Stadium in £17m deal
Brazilian football federation president shares what the FA told him about potential Paqueta ban