Atletico Madrid are after a second central defender to come in after Robin Le Normand signed from Real Sociedad, but it will not be Clement Lenglet. Los Colchoneros have been in lengthy negotiations for David Hancko of Feyenoord, but no resolution has been found.
After reports this week that Atletico were interested in Lenglet, Diario AS explain that Lenglet was offered to Los Rojiblancos, but they turned down the chance to sign him. Barcelona are keen to shift his €8m salary off their books, with two years remaining on his deal. Diego Simeone remains set on bringing Hancko in too.
Meanwhile MD say that Lenglet could in fact remain at the club this season, after multiple years out on loan. Manager Hansi Flick has been impressed by both his performances and his attitude in training of late. The club see it as essential to move his large salary off the books again this summer.
Real Sociedad are the other side that have been linked to Lenglet, but his agents have assured the Catalan daily they no nothing on any interest from La Real, who are looking to replace Le Normand.
It seems Barcelona will likely have to end up paying a significant chunk of his salary to have him leave on loan, unless a Premier League side comes back in for him. Lenglet has generally performed competently wherever he has been over recent years, but with neither of Tottenham Hotspur or Aston Villa considering a move for him this summer, his options in England look slim on the ground.