Aston Villa manager Unai Emery appears to have poured cold water on the idea of AC Milan target Clement Lenglet leaving the club in January.
Milan are in dire need of a centre-back signing next month given that Malick Thiaw and Pierre Kalulu – a starter and the first reserve – will be out injured for a while longer yet, leaving Fikayo Tomori and the unreliable Simon Kjaer holding down the fort for now.
Lenglet has been mentioned as a target, and Calciomercato.com reported that he wants to leave Aston Villa because he is not finding much playing time under Unai Emery. He has zero appearances in the Premier League and five in the Conference League.
Emery spoke at a press conference on the eve of the match against Sheffield United and among the various topics discussed he was asked about the future of Lenget, with Tribal Football relaying his comments.
“I am very happy with him. His commitment in every training session is amazing. He is a very good professional and always ready to play. The last matches he was sick. He was with us in Zrinjski,” he said.
“He was better at Brentford but still a little bit sick. Other players maybe wouldn’t be with the squad if they were feeling like he was.
“Tomorrow, if everything is going well, I think he is going to play. I am wishing to see him and am really very excited about how he will help us tomorrow and in the next matches.
“I want to keep him because we need players for the challenges we are going to face this season.”
Thank God! We do not want him.