Aston Villa are reportedly in pole position to sign Everton left-back Lucas Digne despite competition from Chelsea and West Ham United.
According to the latest report from Sky Sports, Aston Villa have moved one step closer towards the capture of Lucas Digne. The Midlands outfit are in advanced talks with Everton regarding a permanent move for the gifted left-back. Although a deal is yet to be reached, Villa are likely to pay around £20-25 million to secure the services of the defender.
The Villans should have no issues striking a personal agreement with Digne himself, as the player favours a move to Villa Park. The Frenchman is set to become the club’s second big signing of the January transfer window, following the footsteps of Philippe Coutinho, who recently joined Steven Gerrard’s team on a loan deal from Barcelona.
Digne is likely to be considered as a direct upgrade over Matt Targett at left-back. His addition to the team could further boost the quality of Villa’s creative department, as he hopes to cause tandem by linking up with Coutinho on the left flank.
His imminent move to Villa Park, though, could serve as a massive blow for Chelsea. The Blues had been targeting the former PSG man as a replacement for Ben Chilwell, who is out for the season after undergoing to knee surgery. Digne’s technical prowess and ability to create chances in the final third might have made him a solid fit for Thomas Tuchel’s setup.
However, the Blues have no shortage of alternatives, with Tuchel particularly keen on wrapping up a deal to sign AC Milan sensation Theo Hernandez.
Another club involved in the pursuit of Digne was West Ham. The Hammers had been tracking the progress of the Frenchman for quite some time. But their apparent financial crisis has certainly crippled their powers in the transfer market, with the club being forced to target cost-effective options such as Antonee Robinson of Fulham.
Everton, for their part, are prepared for life without their star left-back. The Toffees have recently brought in Vitaliy Mykolenko as a direct replacement for Digne, while Rafael Benitez has also secured the services of the exciting Nathan Patterson as deputy to first-choice right-back Seamus Coleman.
