‘Departure is close’: Director says £32m ace is going, amid Tottenham talks

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Barcelona director Jordi Cruyff has confirmed Clement Lenglet is close to leaving the Camp Nou amid claims Tottenham Hotspur are set to sign the Frenchman on loan for the season.

Antonio Conte is ready to welcome the centre-back to north London as he bids to build on Champions League qualification. Tottenham only ended the last Premier League campaign two points clear of fifth-place Arsenal, and feel Lenglet can now present an improvement.

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Spurs registered the fourth-best defence on route to finishing fourth with 40 goals allowed over their 38 games. Their record under Conte was also the third-best, having shipped just 24 in 28 with the Italian at the helm – behind only Liverpool (18) and Manchester City (20).

Cruyff confirms Lenglet exit with Tottenham set to sign Barcelona defender

Lenglet is allowed to leave Barcelona this summer after falling out of favour following Xavi Hernandez replacing Ronald Koeman. The 27-year-old made 15 of his 21 La Liga outings in the six months that followed the Blaugrana firing Koeman, while also only staring just five.

Tottenham are now set to sign Lenglet and offer the 15-cap international his escape from Barcelona’s wilderness. Mundo Deportivo report the Blaugrana’s £32m signing from Sevilla in 2018 flew to London last weekend to advance negotiations after accepting Spurs’ offer.

The north Londoners will pay Barcelona €5m (£4.25m) for a season-long switch and cover part of his wage. Tottenham will also obtain an option to buy Lenglet, having opted against a permanent deal this year. Sport previously noted Barcelona set a €15m (£13m) price tag.

Final details are still to be finalised for Tottenham to sign the €10m-a-year (£163k-a/w) ace from Barcelona. But Blaugrana global sports director Cruyff believes Lenglet’s exit is close.

“Lenglet’s departure is close,” Cruyff said, via quotes by Foot Mercato. “We will formalise it when everything is defined. Our job is to give the coach as many weapons as possible so that he uses the weapons he deems appropriate.”

Conte will hope Tottenham manging director Fabio Paratici can conclude negotiations with Barcelona soon to sign Lenglet before Spurs’ pre-season tour of South Korea this Saturday.