33% flop Clement Lenglet may have played his last game for Aston Villa after what happened v Burnley
Clement Lenglet may have played his last game for Aston Villa after he was substituted off by Unai Emery against Burnley amid speculation surrounding his future at Villa Park.
The defender played 62 minutes before being dragged off by Emery and struggled to deal with Burnley striker Lyle Foster as he couldn’t make an impact on the game.
Fabrizio Romano [15 December] reported that Lenglet could be recalled from his loan in England by Barcelona, with AC Milan asking the Spanish giants about his availability.
With the January transfer window rapidly approaching, the opportunity for Barcelona to recall their player from his loan will arrive, and given the boss’ reaction to his performance, that deal could be done soon.
BBC commentator Chris Wise reacted live on BBC Final Score [30 December, 16:26] when the Frenchman was subbed off, stating: “Unai Emery has taken off Lenglet, and that is an indication I think, that Lyle Foster has caused him too many issues today, so Pau Torres is on for him”
In 62 minutes on the pitch, Lenglet’s only defensive action was one clearance he made. He also won just 33 per cent of his ground duels, proving how much he struggled to deal with the presence of Foster in the Burnley attack. [Sofascore]
Of his overall duels, the defender won just two of five attempted, as well as giving possession away to the opposition nine times, completing 37 of his 44 attempted passes as he struggled to play out from the back in the way Emery demands of his defenders.
It has been a slow start to his Aston Villa career for the Frenchman, and that doesn’t look like changing, with Pau Torres returning from his injury likely putting the nail in the coffin for Lenglet as he reclaims his place in the team.
With AC Milan lurking and Barcelona looking likely to trigger the option to recall, his substitution on 62 minutes at Villa Park may have been the last time Villa fans will see Lenglet in the claret and blue shirt, and after this performance, he won’t be missed.
In other Aston Villa news, one Villa star will need to step up after news broke on Friday.