For the first half of the season, Clement Lenglet’s loan from FC Barcelona to Aston Villa appeared to be a failure for all parties concerned. While he appeared in the UEFA Conference League, the Frenchman failed to play a single minute in the Premier League throughout this half of the season.

However, things started changing for the better as he took the opportunities that came with the injury to the starting Villa centre-back Pau Torres. Lenglet started several games in the Spaniard’s absence, but as he has returned from his injury now, it was feared that Lenglet would once again return to oblivion in England.

But that has not been the case as Emery has retained his trust in the Barcelona loanee, who has started the last two games along with Torres. In fact, SPORT reports that Aston Villa are now warming up to the idea of buying him permanently this summer after having considered returning him after only half a season in November.

At that time, it was Unai Emery who stopped Lenglet’s return to Barcelona in January, as he publicly declared his belief that the Frenchman could help him later in the season.

Barcelona have been trying to offload the centre-back for some years now, and he also spent the last year on loan at Tottenham Hotspurs.

He was loaned to Aston Villa as an emergency option last summer, after his permanent move to Spurs fell through, and his Aston Villa contract does not include a purchase option.

Thus, the Premier League side will have to make a decision on whether to negotiate with Barcelona for his purchase, but they might have to compete with some other clubs for his signing in the coming summer.

When allegations surfaced that the 28-year-old defender’s loan at Aston Villa might expire prematurely, AC Milan was one of the clubs that expressed an interest in taking him on. The Italians may return to beg for his services in the summer, increasing the battle for Aston Villa to sign him.