Unai Emery has permanent Aston Villa transfer decision to make on Clement Lenglet
Unai Emery has a transfer decision to make on Clement Lenglet as he probably won’t be a regular starter with everyone available at Aston Villa, Alan Hutton has said.
The French centre-back joined on loan from Barcelona in September (club website) as Emery acted quick to find cover for Tyrone Mings, who suffered a long-term knee injury.
Lenglet, 28, initially struggled for regular game time but with Ezri Konsa, Pau Torres and Diego Carlos having all missed time through injury, he has featured a lot more regularly.
He did not start the 4-0 rout of Ajax in the Europa Conference League (14 March), instead coming on for Carlos but then did partner Torres for the 1-1 draw with West Ham on Sunday (17 March).
Hutton does wonder how much game time he would see with everyone available to Emery, though.
Speaking exclusively to Villa News, the former Villans defender said: “I thought Lenglet actually done well before, he was playing regularly I thought he looked a half-decent player.
“Did I ever see him playing regularly? Probably not. I think at this moment in time he’s a decent fix for the team.
“Obviously, he gets changed – Carlos, I feel for him obviously against Ajax he went off, it looked like a hamstring injury, he’s struggled obviously with injuries this season, Tyrone Mings is still out. I think if everyone’s fit I don’t think Lenglet’s within your starting pair so it’ll be interesting to see what they do.
“Again, how Torres played against Ajax it was with Carlos, did that quite work? I’m not so sure but he’s got options, it will be interesting to see what he does with him at the end of the season.”
Will Aston Villa sign Clement Lenglet permanently?
Lenglet has been a very good servant to Villa this season, especially given he wasn’t expected to play a great deal even accounting for Mings’ injury.
But, when Mings is back fit it perhaps does leave Emery with one option too many at the back and you do wonder if he would get into the team when everyone is available.
It might be that Emery decides he wants to try and keep him given how well he has done at times this term.
However, you do get the sense that he was signed as a stop-gap and that ultimately he won’t return to Villa Park next season.
In other Aston Villa news, the club are eyeing the signing of a Serie A ace.
For more Aston Villa news, follow us on Facebook or join our brand new WhatsApp Channel for instant updates to be sent straight to your phone.