Newcastle United have discussed targeting a transfer for Lucas Digne during January, but the Everton left-back is waiting on further offers to emerge, according to the Daily Mail.
Digne has fallen out of favour at Goodison Park under former Toon coach Rafa Benitez this season. He played in 15 of the Toffees’ first 16 fixtures under the Spaniard, starting 14, and captained the side four times, but has not featured in their last three matchday squads.
The Frenchman has proven himself as one of the Premier League’s best attacking full-backs since an £18m move from Barcelona in 2018, yet now has to occupy a more defensive role.
Benitez has urged Digne to ‘realise the priority has to be the team’ and not his role, via Sky Sports. He was also set to recall him against Chelsea last week, but the defender fell ill.
Centre-back Ben Godfrey has featured in place of Digne in Everton’s recent games and may now enjoy an extended run. That’s because 90min report Digne has decided that his future is away from Everton and wants to leave next month, amid Newcastle’s transfer interest.
But Digne is holding out for other offers to emerge before the Everton star will consider a transfer to Newcastle. The Mirror have cited Chelsea and Leicester as possible suitors. Yet Blues boss Thomas Tuchel states, via football.london, his plans will depend on Ben Chilwell.
Chilwell could be key to Newcastle’s hopes of transfer for Everton’s Digne
Tuchel hopes Chilwell will return to Chelsea’s side in January after stepping up his recovery from a partial ACL tear. He had shown strong form before suffering the blow last month.
Chilwell was forced off after an innocuous challenge in the Blues’ Champions League win over Juventus. The Bianconeri are also another rival suitor for Digne, per Calciomercato.
Everton can show opposition to letting Digne leave as he signed a £119k-a-week, four-year contract this February. They will also be loath to let his talent join a Premier League rival.
Digne has offered 20 assists and six goals in 127 games for Everton, and is strong in the air. Ross Barkley also hailed the 28-year-old on Twitter for having a ‘wand of a left foot’.
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