Barcelona encounter hurdles in effort to offload out-of-favour defender

FC Barcelona’s road to financial freedom has taken a turn for the better in recent months as optimism from La Liga president Javier Tebas and Barcelona president Joan Laporta has grown.

However, the Catalan giants are aware that they must still undertake a few important duties before the club’s monetary status can be declared an outright success.

Among those measures are the sale of deadwood from the squad i.e., parting ways with players who do not have a future in the team is a priority for Barça.

Clement Lenglet is one of the names whom Barcelona are seeking to offload, but his enormous salary poses concerns for any potential suitors, complicating the process of an exit.

Lenglet’s future up in the air

Indeed, according to SPORT, Clement Lenglet is not in Barça’s plans, and the club are open to the idea of terminating his contract, which runs until 2026, but as a last resort.

Meanwhile, although Besiktas showed interest, a loan deal is financially unviable and has been ruled out.

Lenglet is not in Barcelona’s plans. (Photo by Alex Pantling/Getty Images)

Besiktas coach Giovanni van Bronckhorst has a strong relationship with Barça’s sporting director, Deco, and they’ve discussed various matters, including Lenglet.

AC Milan remains interested in Lenglet but prefers a permanent transfer for free, which would require contract termination.

Sevilla are also interested but cannot afford half of his salary, leaving Barça with limited options. Saudi Arabia presents a financially viable option, though Lenglet has been reluctant to move to the Middle East.

Player and club attempting to reach resolution

Having spent last season on loan at Aston Villa, Lenglet was unable to increase his market value due to limited game time, which has complicated matters for Barcelona.

For now, both Barça and Lenglet’s representatives are exploring all options, from a free transfer and contract termination to a loan with minimal salary coverage.

As such, Lenglet will join Barcelona’s US pre-season tour and could play a role until a solution is found in August. Offers will come, but their financial viability remains uncertain.