AC Milan have reportedly touched base with Barcelona to enquire about the availability of French defender Clement Lenglet.
The former Sevilla man has slipped down the Blaugrana pecking order over the past couple of years, seeing Xavi and the Barca hierarchy sanction two loan moves to the Premier League.
Lenglet spent the 2022-23 season under the wing of Antonio Conte, Ryan Mason and Cristian Stellini at Tottenham Hotspur, where he was a regular in the former's three-man backline, playing 35 games in all tournaments.
Speculation over a possible permanent deal began to heat up as the season drew to a close, but Lenglet's North London chapter closed as Tottenham signed Micky van de Ven and Ashley Phillips instead.
Nevertheless, the 28-year-old would return for a second stint in England's top flight with Unai Emery's Aston Villa, joining on a straight loan deal until the end of the 2023-24 season after Tyrone Mings suffered a serious knee injury.
© Reuters
However, Lenglet finds himself behind Pau Torres, Ezri Konsa and Diego Carlos in the Villa Park pecking order, and he has not played a single minute for the Lions in Premier League action this season.
Lenglet did earn five starts in the group stage of the Europa Conference League, helping Emery's side reach the last 16 of Europe's third-tier tournament, but he is expected to be on the bench at best when Villa return to Premier League action against Brentford on Sunday.
As the Barcelona loanee continues to struggle for domestic minutes in the West Midlands, Caughtoffside reporter Fabrizio Romano claims that Milan have now been in touch with Barcelona to find out more about Lenglet's situation.
The Rossoneri's defence has been ravaged by injuries this season, as Pierre Kalulu and Malick Thiaw are both expected to be out until the New Year with tendon and hamstring problems respectively, while Marco Pellegrino and Mattia Caldara are nursing ankle issues.
In addition, Danish veteran Simon Kjaer has not played since October due to a muscular concern, leaving Fikayo Tomori as Stefano Pioli's only recognised senior central defender.
© Reuters
Left-back Theo Hernandez has been forced to fill in alongside Tomori in recent weeks, while 19-year-old Clinton Nsiala was called up to the squad for their Champions League win over Newcastle United on Wednesday.
Kjaer is now back in training with AC Milan and could make his comeback in Sunday's Serie A clash with Monza, but the 34-year-old will enter the final six months of his contract in January, and it is unclear whether he will be granted an extension.
Romano states that nothing is advanced between Milan and Barcelona over talks with Lenglet, as the Italian side have simply asked for information about the France international, and the decision would lie with Barca rather than Villa.
Lenglet has come up with seven goals and three assists in 160 appearances for Barcelona since being signed from Sevilla in 2018, and his contract at Camp Nou is not due to expire until 2026.
The former Nancy youngster has won 15 caps for the France national team, representing Les Bleus at Euro 2020, but he has not played for his country since November 2021.
Ben Knapton
