'%20x='0'%20y='0'%20height='100%25'%20width='100%25'%20%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20xlink%3Ahref='data:image/jpg;base64,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'%3E%3C/image%3E%3C/svg%3E)
What’s the rumour?
Barcelona are set to activate the release clause of Clement Lenglet according to reports in Mundo Deportivo. The Sevilla defender has a €35 million release clause as per the report.
The 22-year-old is set to sign a 5-year contract with the Catalan side and become their first signing of the summer.
In case you didn’t know...
Samuel Umtiti's future at Barcelona is up in the air. The Frenchman has a €60 million release clause and there are several clubs interested in activating it. The defender has demanded a new contract but Barcelona have stalled.
Marca claim that Umtiti wants to be paid the same as Pique but the Catalan side are reluctant to offer him so much and that is why he's yet to sign a new deal.
The heart of the matter
Barcelona are not wasting time with Umtiti and are already planning for the future. They intend to make sure that the defender's departure does not hurt them and are prepared to sign Lenglet as his replacement.
If Umtiti remains at the club, the Sevilla defender will automatically become a long-term replacement for Gerard Pique! So in the end, it's going to be a win-win situation for the Camp Nou side.
Rumour probability: 8/10
Mundo Deportivo are a reliable source. And it is Fernando Polo, one of their best journalists, who is reporting this news.
Barcelona will be getting a very promising defender in their ranks and it will prove to be one of the best signings of the summer. Lenglet has impressed at Sevilla and the Catalan side's faithful will be hoping that he can become a better player at Camp Nou.
Video
Author’s take
Lenglet is one of the best young defenders in the world right now and it is not a surprise that Barcelona are going all out for him. They want to seal the deal as soon as possible so that no other club swoop in for him.
