Aston Villa receive approach for Lucas Digne transfer – £25m defender’s stance

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Lucas Digne is happy to stay at Aston Villa beyond the summer transfer window, amid OGC Nice now registering their interest in a last-gasp deal to sign the France full-back.

That is according to the Express & Star, which reports that Nice have now approached Aston Villa to discuss Digne’s transfer. Les Aiglons are keen to sign the 30-year-old after becoming aware of his potential availability. Villans boss Unai Emery has refused to rule out cashing in.

Aston Villa have explored offloading Digne throughout the summer as Emery looked to sign a new left-back. The 30-year-old is currently ‘more closer to staying’ in Birmingham than he is securing a switch away. But several teams, including some in the Saudi Pro League, still lurk.

OGC Nice register their interest in Lucas Digne’s transfer

Nice are rivalling interest from Saudi Arabia in Digne’s transfer from Aston Villa after starting the 2023/24 Ligue 1 season with back-to-back draws. The Allianz Riviera club are desperate to improve their form after only finishing last term in ninth. They finished in fifth in 2021/22.

Emery has given Les Aiglons and several Saudi sides some optimism by refusing to rule out letting Digne depart, too. The Villans boss is ready to say goodbye after shopping the market for a new option. But after marking Marcos Acuna as his target, the Sevilla star has an injury.

Acuna is facing several weeks on the sidelines after sustaining a thigh injury. While Digne is now Aston Villa’s only fit first-team left-back with Alex Moreno still missing. He underwent surgery on his hamstring after sustaining a serious injury this summer but may return soon.

Unai Emery will axe Lucas Digne once Alex Moreno returns

Digne, who Marco Silva stated ‘has everything’ whilst together at Everton, still being happy to remain at Aston Villa will ease Emery’s immediate concerns. But the Villans may consider interest from Nice and Saudi Arabia in the £25m former Toffees star too appealing to reject.

Despite offering three assists as Aston Villa stunned Hibernian 5-0 in the Europa Conference League qualifying round, Digne will surely once again fall out of favour once Moreno returns. Emery only relied on the Meaux native sparingly following Moreno’s transfer during January.