Barcelona and Atletico Madrid likely to agree €10 million deal for defender – report | OneFootball

Having sealed a late loan move to Atletico Madrid from FC Barcelona in the summer of 2024, Clement Lenglet has managed to make himself an important player at the Riyadh Air Metropolitano.

The French international made a slow start to life with Los Rojiblancos but has since grown into a permanent fixture at the heart of their defence, becoming one of Diego Simeone’s most trusted players this season.

As such, Atletico, who will face Barcelona in La Liga on Sunday, are eager to make Lenglet’s signing permanent and talks over a deal have been taking place between the two clubs.

Barcelona want €12 million, Atletico offering €8 million

Now, according to journalist Miguel Rico (h/t FCB World), Atletico Madrid are offering €8 million to sign Lenglet permanently from Barcelona at the end of the season.

The Catalan giants, however, are holding out for a transfer fee of €12 million for the French international defender.

Atletico want to sign Lenglet permanently. (Photo by Angel Martinez/Getty Images)

The expectation is that the two clubs could agree on a middle ground and finalise a deal for a fee of €10 million.

Lenglet, 29, joined Barcelona from Sevilla in 2018 and enjoyed a couple of impressive seasons, before falling out of favour at the club.

The Frenchman spent the 2022/23 season on loan at Tottenham Hotspur and was shipped out to Aston Villa in the previous campaign before joining Atletico last summer, where he seems to have rediscovered his form.

A fee of €10 million for a player who does not feature in Hansi Flick’s plans might be acceptable for Barcelona, considering that they will be eager to get rid of his salary.

Unless there are any major setbacks, a permanent move appears very much on the cards, with the transfer fee being the only sticking point.