Tottenham set to sign Clement Lenglet on season-long loan transfer as Antonio Conte targets Barcelona defender

Lenglet, 27, has been at Barcelona since 2018 after a £30million move from Sevilla.

He’s since made 160 appearances for the Catalan giants.

But Lenglet only started seven league games last season.

And Barcelona were looking to offload his annual £5m salary in a bid to balance the books.

Marseille were thought to be leading the race for Lenglet, who’s been capped 15 times by France.

But Italian tactician Conte has stormed in late on.

And Lenglet is now set to ply his trade in the Premier League as Spurs’ new left-sided centre-half.

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The savvy switch means Tottenham are only obligated to cover Lenglet’s wages.

And should the deal not work out, he will simply return to Barcelona next summer.

Tottenham have been linked with several other left-footers, including Villarreal’s Pau Torres and Inter Milan’s Alessandro Bastoni.

But with £60million about to be spent on Everton’s Richarlison, Conte needed to make a smart purchase in defence.

The ex-Chelsea gaffer has already swooped for his former Inter wing-back Ivan Perisic on a free transfer.

And Conte forked out just £25m for Brighton’s highly-rated Yves Bissouma.

Free agent Fraser Forster will provide some experience as the back-up goalie.

And Spurs remain locked in talks with Middlesbrough over a move for Djed Spencer.