Clement Lenglet, who is said to be someone the Hammers hold an interest in, is reportedly available this summer with Barcelona willing to loan the Frenchman, according to Spanish publication SPORT.

Lenglet, who has 15 caps for the French national team, has spent the last couple of seasons playing in the Premier League. The season before last, the 22/23 campaign, he spent on loan at Tottenham Hotspur, where he went on to make 35 appearances. He also spent last season in the top flight, joining Aston Villa on loan and going on to make 25 appearances for Unai Emery’s side.

Having been at Spanish giants Barcelona since 2018, the Frenchman does not appear to be a part of new manager Hansi Flick’s plans, leaving the door wide open for a potential exit and a summer transfer.

The Hammers are among a variety of clubs interested in the 29 year old, these are said to include Napoli and Sevilla, who are a previous club of Lenglet’s. While West Ham have made their interest in Lenglet known, they are yet to put a concrete offer on the table for him. This may well be strategic from the club as they assess their potential options for defensive reinforcements.

A loan deal may prove to be appealing to the Hammers as new boss Julen Lopetegui is keen to strengthen his defensive options. As has been reported, Lopetegui is keen to reunite with Wolves captain Max Kilman. With West Ham recently having a £30 million bid rejected, however, a loan deal for someone like Lenglet would certainly bolster the Hammers defence and prove to be a much more cost effective signing.

Lenglet is vastly experienced, with close to 400 professional appearances, Champions League experience and he has won a number of trophies during his time at Barcelona. This, combined with the fact he would be available for a relatively modest fee in today’s market, could tempt the Hammers into making a move for him.

The club must consider whether Lenglet would fit in with how the Hammers want to play under new boss Julen Lopetegui. Whether an offer for the Frenchman is submitted will depend on the club’s transfer strategy this summer and their overall opinion as to whether or not Lenglet could improve the Hammers defensive unit.