Sevilla set up Lenglet contingency plan: Musacchio & Lejeune

Sevilla set up Lenglet contingency plan: Musacchio & Lejeune

Mateo Musacchio, durante un partido con el Milan
Mateo Musacchio, durante un partido con el Milan | sport

The La Liga side hope Lenglet will stay but are making plans just in case he leaves

Sevilla are beginning to think Clement Lenglet could leave for Barcelona. The La Liga side are less optimistic all the time with regards to the French centre-back's future, so they have begun to make alternative plans. Milan's Mateo Musacchio and Newcastle United's Florian Lejeune are potential targets.

Lenglet met with Sevilla on Wednesday. The club tried to convince him to stay, explaining that he will be a key part of the new project under new coach Pablo Machin. But if a few days ago he looked set to stay, there is now concern at the Andalusian club that he could leave. Barça interest is just as intense, if not more, than before Samuel Umtiti renewed at Camp Nou. 

With that as the context, Sevilla have got to work. In the event that Lenglet leaves, they will move for a new centre-back. And, right now, Musacchio and Lejeune are their preferred options.

Argentine defender Musacchio, now at Milan, has not been a regular in Italy since arriving from Villarreal for 18 million euros. He knows the Spanish league, though, and would fit Machin's system. 

As for French centre-back Lejeune, a deal would be more complicated. Machin knows him well having worked with him at Girona. However, he's a pillar of Rafa Benitez's Newcastle side and it would be difficult for Sevilla to convince the Premier League team to sell. It would also be hard to tempt the player back to Spain.