Everton in the face of potential failure with other targets, aim to complete the signing of Barcelona full-back Lucas Digne and kick-start their transfer business.
Everton are keenly looking for players to be signed in this transfer window, with many primary targets reportedly turning their heads away from a move to Goodison Park. The Sun is now reporting that Everton are pushing hard for the transfer of Barcelona full-back Lucas Digne and break their transfer duck.
Big things are expected from Everton in the coming season, especially after finally appointing long-term managerial target Marco Silva. Since his appointment, Everton have been strongly linked with many players, including Crystal Palace star Wilfried Zaha, but none of those targets have materialised into signings so far.
With Silva completely trusting the likes of the new director of football, Marcel Brands to deliver transfer targets, Everton are expected to break their duck and push hard for the transfer of Barcelona left-back Lucas Digne in the coming days. Everton believes the French defender is ready to leave the Catalan giants to revive his career.
Everton are reportedly preparing to offer £14 million for the full-back and hope that Barcelona accepts their offer without much of a fuss. Everton knows the need for Digne to play more often than he currently is, and the player himself is convinced he needs to move on from the La Liga champions to play more.
Digne signed with Barcelona in a £14 million deal two summers ago from PSG, and his arrival was aimed to provide intense competition to first choice left-back Jordi Alba. Digne has miserably failed to upstage the Spaniard from his position and instead has seen him waiting on the fringes to play games that may not have held much importance.
Since joining back in 2016, Digne has played for Barcelona only on 46 occasions and last season featured in just 20 games across all competition. His lack of regular first-team football did have its consequences, as he was left entirely out of the France squad at the World Cup, which they won in Russia.
The omission was a major setback for the defender and the fact that he had been capped 21 times before the tournament did not help his cause, as Didier Deschamps was looking at players who played regular club football. Digne, hence, is undoubtedly looking for a way out of Barcelona and Everton might be an appealing option.
Digne is experienced enough to replace veteran left-back Leighton Baines, who Everton have been actively looking to phase out since last season. Will a £14 million offer for the Frenchman be enough to persuade Barcelona to sell their second choice left-back, who when called upon has been a reliable back-up for Jordi Alba?
