Tottenham Hotspur are closing in on the signing of French defender Clement Lenglet.
The 15-cap French international has been linked with a move away from Barcelona for weeks now and Spanish publication Marca are claiming that the two clubs have secured an agreement in principle and the player is set to join the Premier League club on loan.
Apparently, the move could have been sorted out sooner but Tottenham were unwilling to pay the full wages of the defender and therefore the two clubs were locked in talks regarding a compromise.
It appears that Barcelona are now prepared to pay 15% of the salary while the remaining amount will be paid by the London club.
The report further states that the deal could include an option to buy the player permanently at the end of the season.
The 27-year-old French defender arrived at Barcelona with a big reputation but he has struggled to hold down a regular starting berth this past year.
He has started just seven games in the Spanish league and Lenglet needs to join a club where he can play more often.
It is no secret that Antonio Conte needs to add more depth to his defensive department and the Frenchman could get more game time at the London club next season.
However, it remains to be seen whether he can convince the Italian manager to give him a regular run in the starting line-up alongside Argentine international Cristian Romero.
The 27-year-old is an impressive passer from the deep and he will help Tottenham play out from the back. However, he will have to work on his decision-making and rash tackling in particular.
The Frenchman has been heavily criticized by the Barcelona fans because of his lack of discipline and that could prove costly in the Premier League.
That said, the 27-year-old was highly regarded during his time at Sevilla and a world-class manager like Conte could help mask the deficiencies in his game and help him regain his confidence and sharpness next season.
On a loan deal, the move wouldn’t be risky for the Premier League side either. Lenglet could end up proving a major bargain for the Londoners if he can adapt to the Premier League and perform at a high level consistently.