Arsenal have made an enquiry about the availability of Sevilla defender Clement Lenglet in the last few days, according to Get French Football.
Twitter: Arsenal & Real Madrid have both made enquiries for Clément Lenglet in recent days, according to France Football. Ba… https://t.co/9iPwBOccZy (@GFFN)
The French centre-back, who reportedly has a €35m release clause, played 54 times for Sevilla last season, scoring four times. 22-year-old old is yet to be capped at full international level, but has 10 appearances for the U21s.
Lenglet joined Sevilla from AS Nancy for €5.4m back in January 2017 and has been a constant at the back ever since, as Sevilla finished 7th in La Liga and reached the Quarter Finals of the Champions League, losing out to Bayern Munich.
Should a move to the Emirates go through, Arsenal supporters will welcome the addition of a player who is willing to ‘get stuck in’, something Gunners’ fans feel the team has lacked in recent times.
Unai Emery’s appointment as Arsenal Head Coach has brought about numerous changes in the club’s philosophy moving forward. The former Sevilla and PSG manager stated in his press conference that he wants his team to play like Pep Guardiola’s Manchester City, outlining his want for his team to be aggressive off the ball:
When we don’t have possession with the ball I want a squad, very very intensive, for the pressing.
Signing Lenglet, then, would certainly fit the Spaniard’s mould. He’s a ball playing centre back who likes to be physical and doesn’t shy away from a tackle. He would also become the only left footed centre back in the squad, providing a hint of balance at the back for a team that has leaked goals in recent times. Interestingly however, the Frenchman would be the smallest centre back in the squad should the move happen, standing at 6ft 1in, 5 inches smaller than the retiring Per Mertesacker.
With a move for Dortmund defender Sokratis Papastathopoulos reportedly on the verge of completion, if reports from L’Equipe are to be believed, it is clear Emery and Arsenal are prioritising defensive reinforcements.
