Barcelona to Send Veteran Defender on Loan Immediately After Signing Contract Extension

La Liga giants Barcelona are preparing to send Clement Lenglet on loan again after signing a one-year contract extension with the veteran defender. With a week left before the summer transfer window closes, Hansi Flick’s side have seemingly found a resolution over the out-of-favour Frenchman. MARCA have reported that Atletico Madrid see Lenglet as an ideal fit at the Spanish club. Italian journalist and transfer expert Fabrizio Romano also seems to agree, having given his signature seal of approval for Lenglet’s move to Atletico Madrid on X. Speaking about the deal, Romano wrote, “Clement Lenglet to Atletico Madrid, here we go!”

Talking further in his post, Fabrizio Romano discussed the details involved in the deal. He explained that Clement Lenglet would extend his contract at Barcelona for another year until 2027 before immediately leaving on loan to join their La Liga rivals Atletico Madrid. The extension will help spread his wages over a longer period, reducing the burden on the Blaugranas to some extent. The loan deal will not include an option to buy. As for the salaries, Lenglet’s wages will be taken care of primarily by his new club. The Italian journalist also talked about the medical tests of the defender being booked. Romano later shared another update on X claiming Lenglet has ‘already accepted’ Barca’s proposal and was in Madrid for physical examination.

Clement Lenglet’s move to Atletico Madrid on loan has been in the works for quite a while now. Some reports previously claimed that the deal was on the brink of collapsing with Los Rojiblancos going after David Hancko instead. However, numerous difficulties in signing Hancko due to La Liga’s salary caps resulted in all eyes shifting to Clement Lenglet. The Frenchman is set to arrive at the Civitas Metropolitano after the exits of Samu Omorodion, Santiago Mourino and a third player. These three departures would likely make enough room in the club’s wage bill to incorporate the left-footed centre-back who will form part of the three-man line that Diego Simeone likes to play.

Clement Lenglet recently returned to Barcelona after a two-year loan spell in the Premier League with Tottenham Hotspur and Aston Villa. He also prominently featured for the Blaugranas during the pre-season but still has no future at the club. Barcelona cannot afford to bear his mammoth €16 million a year wages given their current financial turmoils. They secured a deal for Lenglet in the summer of 2018 after triggering his €35 million from Sevilla. The Frenchman went on to win the Supercopa de Espana in 2018, La Liga in 2019 and the Copa del Rey in 2021 at the club.