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Aston Villa now want replacement for ‘fantastic’ £25m player, but Emery has hit stumbling block

Photo by Tim Nwachukwu/Getty Images
Photo by Tim Nwachukwu/Getty Images
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Aston Villa want to sign a replacement for Lucas Digne before letting him go this summer.

That is according to RMC Sport.

The French outlet claims that Lucas Digne‘s move to Nice is being held up because Aston Villa want to bring in someone who can take up the left-back’s position in the squad first.

The man that Villa appear to have identified is Sevilla’s Marcos Acuna. However, RMC Sport states that there has been a lack of progress in talks between the two clubs.

It means for the time being, then, Digne will be remaining at Villa Park.

Lucas Digne’s time at Aston Villa has been disappointing

The best-case scenario here is Villa signing Acuna or another left-back so that Digne can get his move to Nice.

Things have not quite worked out for him at Villa. Much was expected of the Frenchman when he joined the Midlands club, as he arrived with a big reputation.

ollie Watkins
Photo by Simon Stacpoole/Offside/Offside via Getty Images

Digne, who cost his current employers £25m, was easily one of the best attacking full-backs in the Premier League during his time at Everton.

In his final full season at Goodison Park, the 30-year-old provided seven assists in the top flight, which is quite impressive for a defender.

His former manager Marco Silva described him as a “fantastic football player”, and it is fair to say that he justified that praise at Everton.

Villa supporters have not seen that too often, though Digne has had a few injury problems since arriving at Villa Park.

When you consider all of the above, a fresh start could be good for Digne. However, it looks like he will only get that if Unai Emery can land a replacement before the transfer window closes, which is proving to be a difficult task for the Spaniard and his superiors right now.