Unai Emery stance predicted as Clement Lenglet seeks Aston Villa exit amid £8.5m transfer news
We’re delighted to welcome former Aston Villa full-back Alan Hutton as our exclusive columnist. Each week he’ll be giving his views on the biggest talking points at Villa Park…
Alan Hutton admits Clement Lenglet will have to make do with being a fringe player if he stays at Aston Villa.
Lenglet, 28, joined the Villans on a season-long loan from Barcelona in the summer transfer window but he’s yet to play in the Premier League.
He has, however, started and completed 90 minutes in all five of the club’s Europa Conference League group-stage matches.
Spanish news outlet Sport reported on 8 December that Bayern Munich are interested in a move for the France international ahead of the January transfer window.
It is understood that Barca want at least £8.5million for the Villa loanee, who is said to be uncomfortable in the West Midlands due to his lack of playing time.
As a result, Sport claims that Lenglet wants to terminate his loan deal in January and Aston Villa are open to allowing him to do that.
Hutton admits Lenglet’s spell at Villa Park hasn’t yielded as much game as the centre-back would have hoped due to Unai Emery having better options ahead of him in the pecking order.
“I just think Emery fancies the centre-halves ahead of him more,” Hutton told Villa News. “It’s as simple as that.
“Diego Carlos was brought in for big money and he was out injured but now he’s back, Ezri Konsa is a stick-on to play, you’ve got Pau Torres and when Tyrone Mings is fit, he’ll be back in there.
“At the time, it was good to bring in Lenglet with his experience, his know-how and the fact he’s played for big clubs.
“He’s always good to fall back on and lean on.
“It is what it is. The manager just prefers the stronger options at this moment in time.”
In other Aston Villa news, it is “done” for this central midfielder to quit Villa Park with a permanent transfer deal already agreed.