If Barcelona want to secure the signing of Clement Lenglet, the Catalan side must trigger his €30 million release clause, says Sevilla director of football Joaquin Caparros.
Lenglet joined Sevilla in January 2017 but has gone on to impress a number of sides across Europe and his form has seen Barcelona firm up their interest.
But Caparros, according to Spanish publication AS, insists the club have no appetite to sell the defensive star and only a fully-paid release clause will see negotiations commence.
‘Let’s get one thing clear, something we’ve always said: Sevilla will not sell Lenglet,’ the director of football said.
‘Barcelona wanted to negotiate a transfer but we will not sell him. It’s another thing if they pay the release clause, then any player can leave.
‘For now, Lenglet is our player, he did medical tests on Tuesday with the rest of the team and, as things stand, will go to Benidorm with the rest of the players for pre-season. There will be no negotiating because we don’t want to negotiate.’
The issue for Sevilla is that the 23-year-old, according to reports, has rejected improved terms in a bid to end talk of his future.
Barcelona are looking to bolster their ranks as they prepare to launch an attack on multiple fronts next season having lifted the La Liga title but struggled in the Champions League.
Frenchman Lenglet represents a target that the Catalans feel can go on to become one of the world’s best but the recent talk from Sevilla is likely to frustrate an immediate move.
‘We want Lenglet to stay, that’s why we made him a renewal offer,’ Caparros concluded. ‘[Barcelona] will have to pay the release clause [to sign him] or he stays.’
