Aston Villa are reportedly closing in on signing Lucas Digne in a £22 million deal, with the Everton defender set to undergo a medical at Villa Park.

A recent report from Football Insider has offered an update on Lucas Digne’s future. It appears Aston Villa have made a major breakthrough in the pursuit of the defender, as their bid was recently accepted by Everton. They are expected to pay an initial fee of around £22 million plus performance-related bonuses.

Everton have now given Digne the green light to move to Villa Park and complete his medical. The player is yet to agree personal terms, but that is not expected to be a problem, especially amid reports suggesting his desire to play under the leadership of Steven Gerrard.

Digne is expected to become the club’s second marquee signing this month, following the arrival of Philippe Coutinho. The Brazilian playmaker joined Aston Villa on a loan deal from Barcelona earlier this month, with the club having the option to make the move permanent in the summer.

It appears Gerrard is hoping to unleash the combination play between Digne and Coutinho on the left flank to further boost his side’s creative prowess in the final third. The Villans have already responded well to the former’s Liverpool midfielder coaching stint so far, although three successive losses in all competitions have affected their momentum.

Lucas Digne unavailable for Everton (Photo by Alex Livesey/Getty Images)
Lucas Digne is set to leave Everton. (Photo by Alex Livesey/Getty Images)

As for Everton, they have responded well to their glaring issues regarding depth in the defensive unit this month, notably bringing in Nathan Patterson to offer more competition for first-choice right-back and captain Seamus Coleman. They have also brought in Vitaliy Mykolenko as a direct replacement for the outgoing Digne.

With the full-back issues all but resolved, Everton have already set their sights on potential reinforcements in central defence. The Toffees have been recently linked with a move for Lloyd Kelly of AFC Bournemouth, although they are expected to face stiff competition from fellow league rivals, including Newcastle United.

Meanwhile, Digne’s £22 million move to Aston Villa might not bode well for some of the English giants, including Chelsea. The Blues are on the hunt for a new left-back after Ben Chilwell was ruled out for the rest of the season. Digne was one of their main targets, but with the Frenchman on the verge of a switch to Villa Park, Thomas Tuchel may have to set his sights on other alternatives.

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