Barcelona bet on Lenglet and prepare to renew defender's contract

Barcelona have decided to bet on Clement Lenglet. So far under Quique Setien, he has lost his place to Samuel Umtiti. But despite that the club plan to put Umtiti on the transfer market and back Lenglet for the future. The numbers are clear and Barça concede fewer goals when he plays. 

Lenglet joined from Sevilla for 35 million euros in 2018 and was back up to Umtiti at first. Due to Umtiti's injury problems, though, he ended up winning his place in the side under Ernesto Valverde. His release clause is 300 million euros and will not change. The club want to improve his terms and extend his deal, which runs until 2023. 

Barça have sounded out the defender's desire to extend his contract, but the coronavirus crisis has paralysed everything. It will be left for the future now. Lenglet is happy at the club. He wants to stay where he is. 

Lenglet's consolidated himself as one of the best left-sided centre-backs in the world. It's a position where there are not many players of top quality and he's become a regular with France. 

The Catalan club will remodel their defence this summer: two players will leave and two will come in, both left footers. The club want a young centre-back with room to improve and who is affordable. The club's wage bill means they can't sign a ready-made option. They will look to sell Umtiti and sign someone who earns less. Villarreal's Pau Torres is an option. 

Lenglet will start the season as the first choice alongside Gerard Pique but he will have competition. The objective is to have two players in every position who are equipped to start every game.