Everton’s purchase of Lucas Digne from FC Barcelona has the potential to be truly remarkable.
Before the summer began, Everton’s two left-back options were the versatile Cuco Martina and veteran 33-year-old Leighton Baines. This morning, the Merseyside club confirmed the signing of Barcelona’s French full-back Lucas Digne; for a figure of £18 million.
Digne joined Barcelona back in 2016 for £13.8 million, with the cost possibly rising to £17.1 million; based on a number of team and individual performance-related factors. However, he has played just 29 La Liga games across two seasons in Spain and it was decided that this summer would be his last.
Signing Digne for £18 million is not only a smart purchase but a brilliant piece of business too. The 25-year-old has played in three of the ‘big five’ leagues, with a loan at AS Roma, five years in Ligue 1 with Lille and PSG, and, most recently, the two years with Barcelona in La Liga.
In addition to this, he has 21 appearances for the French national team and was a part of both their 2014 World Cup and 2016 Euros squads; as well as being in the standby team for the 2018 World Cup.
What Digne will bring to the left-back position, that both Baines and Martina couldn’t, is a more all-round ability; as well as a higher standard of passing and a much more competent aerial ability.
In his 12 La Liga appearances last season for Barcelona, Digne achieved a pass accuracy of 87.9%, as well as picking up an average of 1.8 tackles, 1.3 clearances, 1.1 long balls and 1 interception per game.
Everton fans will be waiting eagerly to see how their new man performs, but this deal could certainly turn out to be one of the best signings of the summer – combining shrewd business with a genuine desire to purchase quality.
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