Tottenham have doubts over €14 million move for Barcelona ace, looking at alternatives

In recent days, it had been reported that Barcelona were hoping to finalise the sale of Clement Lenglet to Tottenham Hotspur before June 30.

The 28-year-old had spent the 2022/23 campaign on loan at Tottenham, with the Lilywhites announcing last week that he would be on his way back to Barcelona after completing his temporary stint.

However, reports suggested that the two clubs remained in talks over the Frenchman’s permanent transfer.

But, according to a fresh update from Mundo Deportivo, Tottenham are starting to have doubts over a permanent move for Lenglet and have already begun looking at alternatives in the transfer market.

It is reported that Barcelona had been looking for a fee of around €14 million for Lenglet. But, Spurs appear to be unwilling to meet that valuation, especially given that they would also have to bear his entire wages which are sizeable.

There had been talks of the Blaugrana using Lenglet as part of an operation to sign midfield target Giovani Lo Celso.

However, the negotiations between the two clubs have gone cold of late, with the defender’s entourage informing that there are no developments on the matter at the moment.

In fact, the north London outfit are looking at other options, one of which is Edmond Tapsoba of Bayer Leverkusen. The 24-year-old has been on Tottenham’s radar for a long time and are understood to be negotiating with both the player and his club over a transfer.

So, as things stand, Lenglet’s exit operation may have become complicated given that Spurs had been the only club showing an interest in his services this far.

It creates issues for the Blaugrana who were hoping to make sales before June 30 so that they can generate some Financial Fair Play margin to register new contracts.