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Al-Nassr to beat Tottenham Hotspur to Barcelona's Clement Lenglet?

Al-Nassr to beat Spurs to Barcelona's Clement Lenglet?
© Reuters
Al-Nassr are reportedly in the race - alongside Tottenham Hotspur - to sign Barcelona defender Clement Lenglet, with the Saudi club offering £12.9m for the Frenchman.

Al-Nassr have reportedly entered the race to sign Barcelona defender Clement Lenglet, with Tottenham Hotspur keen on bringing the player back to North London this summer.

The 28-year-old secured a temporary switch to Spurs for the 2022-23 campaign, featuring in 26 Premier League matches and assisting on two occasions as the Lilywhites failed to achieve a top-seven finish.

Without the potential distraction of European football this term, new head coach Ange Postecoglou is looking to mould his squad into one which can compete for trophies in the future.

Having struggled for game time at Camp Nou since 2021, centre-back Lenglet has not been called up for the French national team since March 2022, meaning that he missed out on selection for the World Cup in Qatar back in December.

According to SPORT, Spurs have some considerable competition in their quest to bring Lenglet back to the Premier League, with Al-Nassr said to be keen on the player.

Clement Lenglet in action for Tottenham Hotspur in August 2022© Reuters

The Saudi Pro League outfit are supposedly willing to pay €15m (£12.9m) for the defender's services, as the Middle East continues to attract high-level European talent to their government-backed clubs.

It is understood that Al-Nassr have approached Lenglet with a three-year deal, offering him the same salary as he is currently receiving at the Catalan giants.

Despite being handed the chance to play alongside Cristiano Ronaldo in Saudi Arabia, it is believed that Tottenham is the defender's preferred destination at this moment.

Lenglet travelled with Xavi's squad to the United States as part of their pre-season preparations, however the Frenchman failed to rack up any game time over the course of three friendly fixtures.

Ronald Araujo, Andreas Christensen and Jules Kounde were all used at centre-back in matches against Arsenal, Real Madrid and AC Milan, and it is understood that Lenglet is surplus to requirements at the La Liga champions.

Barcelona's Jules Kounde in action with Real Madrid's Karim Benzema on January 15, 2023© Reuters

It was reported earlier this week that Spurs are planning to submit a double bid for Lenglet and Franck Kessie, with Postecoglou targeting talent across Europe as well as in England.

The Lilywhites have bolstered their attacking ranks with the signings of James Maddison and Manor Solomon from Leicester City and Fulham respectively, although the future of Harry Kane remains uncertain as Bayern Munich chase the England striker.

Postecoglou's men are yet to add any names to their defensive department this summer, however they have recruited goalkeeper Guglielmo Vicario from Empoli for around £16m.

Al-Nassr commence their Pro League campaign on August 14 when they host Steven Gerrard's Al-Ettifaq, while Tottenham kick off their Premier League season by travelling to Brentford a day earlier.

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Written by
Carter White

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