Alasdair Gold reveals what Lenglet told him about Spurs loan move

Alasdair Gold has said Clement Lenglet is eager to impress at Tottenham Hotspur and that the centre-back wants to be a ‘big success’ in the Premier League. 

Lenglet had fallen out of favour at Barcelona in the 12 months before his loan switch to Spurs, and some eyebrows were raised when Antonio Conte’s men snapped up the Frenchman on loan this summer.

However, he has made a fairly promising start to life in the Premier League, having put in some solid display whenever he has deputised for Ben Davies in the left centre-back role so far this season.

The 27-year-old’s sternest test might come immediately following the international break, with reports indicating that Davies might not be fit to take the field for the North London Derby at the Emirates on October 1 (Football.London).

Gold has now suggested that a permanent move to Tottenham is a possibility for Lenglet if he does well over the course of the season.

When asked if Conte sees the on-loan Barcelona man as a long-term solution for the left-sided centre-back role, the journalist said on a Q&A on Football.London: “Conte seems to like him.

“Spurs definitely wanted Gvardiol or Bastoni last summer but they were both big-money signings and unavailable for varying reasons and that’s why they went for the experienced Lenglet and this loan.

“It essentially either fixes the problem for a season with competition for Davies and they try again for Bastoni next summer, or Lenglet makes the role his own.

“Having spoken to the Frenchman out in Israel, he’s a clever chap, very grounded and eager to impress and it’s no surprise he’s taken on Conte’s ideas quickly.

“I asked Lenglet out there about what comes next, as there’s no option to buy him, and he said the coming months will decide what happens. He wants to be a big success in the Premier League and then it’s down to Spurs and Barcelona to speak about the future.

“If he shines, it becomes a no-brainer to work out a deal with Barcelona who likely won’t want to keep him anyway. If he doesn’t become a success then the loan simply ends. It’s pretty cut and dried for a Tottenham situation.”

Spurs Web Opinion

Given how the likes of Bentancur and Kulusevski have surprised us since their switches to Tottenham, it would be naive to write Lenglet off despite his struggles at Barcelona.

Having said that, I suspect Conte and Paratici see him as a short-term stopgap, and I expect the club to reignite their interest in the likes of Bastoni and Gvardiol next summer.

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