Barcelona, Tottenham making progress in talks over €5 million deal for defender.
Despite previous reports suggesting that Tottenham had doubts about signing FC Barcelona defender Clement Lenglet, a new update from SPORT's Ferran Correas indicates that progress is being made in talks between the two clubs. Barcelona and Tottenham Hotspur are reportedly working towards a permanent transfer for the Frenchman, with the Catalans aiming to finalize the sale before the end of the month.
Lenglet had spent the 2022/23 season on loan at Spurs after falling out of favor at Barcelona. The loan agreement did not include a purchase option, leading to Lenglet's return to Catalonia. However, Tottenham remains interested in securing his services for the upcoming season. While the club prefers another loan deal, Barcelona is determined to sell Lenglet, and negotiations have seen some progress, although a final agreement has yet to be reached.
Barcelona is keen to complete Lenglet's departure before June 30, as it would result in a €16 million reduction in wages for the upcoming season, facilitating their ability to register new players. However, neither the player nor Tottenham are in a rush to finalize the transfer.
The stumbling block in negotiations is Lenglet's high wages, which pose a challenge for both parties. While Tottenham is willing to offer the defender a five-year contract on his current wages, meeting Barcelona's asking price for the transfer would be difficult. Therefore, Spurs have made an offer of only €5 million for Lenglet's services.
It remains to be seen whether Barcelona will accept such a modest proposal. However, considering their primary objective of alleviating Lenglet's substantial wage burden, they may be open to a compromise on the transfer fee.
In summary, despite initial doubts, Barcelona and Tottenham are progressing in talks regarding the permanent transfer of Clement Lenglet. Barcelona aims to conclude the sale before the end of the month to reduce their wage expenditure. While Tottenham prefers another loan deal, Barcelona is focused on an outright sale. Negotiations have seen some advancement, although the final agreement is still pending. The main hurdle in the negotiations is Lenglet's high wages, which impact Tottenham's ability to meet Barcelona's asking price. However, a compromise could be reached on the transfer fee as Barcelona prioritizes offloading the defender's wages from their payroll.
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