Barcelona set to complete £35m signing of Clement Lenglet from Sevilla

Lenglet is a long-term replacement for Thomas Vermaelen

Barcelona will complete the £35m signing of defender Clement Lenglet in the coming days, with the Frenchman having communicated to Sevilla his desire to leave the club.

Only details over the structuring of the fee are yet to be resolved, with Barca opting to pay over the centre-back’s release clause in order to be able to pay the fee in instalments.

Lenglet impressed in Seville after signing from Ligue 1 side Nancy, joining for £4m in January 2017, and has already agreed terms on a contract with the Spanish champions.

He will provide the long-term replacement for former Arsenal defender Thomas Vermaelen at the Nou Camp, though Barca could still buy another defender with the future of Colombia international Yerry Mina still up in the air.

Mina has impressed at the World Cup with two goals but his performances at Barca last year showed a raw defender whose game is still in need of some polishing. He is expected to go out on loan but the club have not discarded the option of selling him with a buy-back clause built into the deal.

Lenglet is yet to play a senior game for France but has represented them at every youth level from Under-16 to Under-21 and is expected to be part of their next cycle as they look towards Euro 2020.