Another season, another loan: Lenglet will join Villa

Aston Villa has successfully negotiated a deal with Barcelona to bring Clement Lenglet to the club on loan. This move makes the 28-year-old French defender Aston Villa's fifth signing of this transfer window, joining the ranks alongside Youri Tielemans, Pau Torres, Moussa Diaby, and Nicolo Zaniolo. Lenglet is set to travel to the UK to finalize the transfer. As various sources report, it's a loan without a clause which would make the mover permanent.

A year ago, Lenglet was loaned out from Barcelona to Tottenham Hotspur for the entirety of the 2022/23 season. He made 27 appearances in the Premier League for Tottenham and also played in seven out of eight Champions League matches, scoring in the win against Olympique de Marseille.

Lenglet initially joined Barcelona from Sevilla in 2018 after the club paid his $38 million release clause. Villa's current president of football operations, Monchi, had signed Lenglet for Sevilla from French club Nancy in a deal worth just $6 million in January 2017.

Having played 160 matches across all competitions for Barcelona, Lenglet brings valuable experience and depth to Unai Emery's defensive lineup, which faced a setback due to Tyrone Mings' long-term injury.

Emery has prioritized left-footed centre-backs, with Lenglet becoming the second such addition after Pau Torres. The squad also includes Ezri Konsa, Diego Carlos, and Calum Chambers as centre-back options. Although Emery and Lenglet haven't worked together, the Spanish coach knows the defender well. Emery's tactical approach during pre-season includes a back-three system, and he aims to have two players for each position.