Lucas Digne’s ‘staggering’ contract demands are proving to be a major problem for Newcastle United, according to The Sun (9 January, page 59) with Premier League rivals Aston Villa closing in on the Everton defender.
As far as Digne and Benitez are concerned, it seems that this town ain’t big enough for the both of them.
Though ask Everton supporters who they would rather see depart via the back door this month and the majority will say Benitez rather than an £18 million France international who established himself as one of the most popular players in recent Goodison Park history.
Benitez confirmed on Friday that Digne had asked to leave.
Majority shareholder Farhad Moshiri continues to throw his weight behind his under-fire head coach, however, with an unseemly saga expected to end with Digne’s mid-season departure.
Will Aston Villa beat Newcastle to Lucas Digne?
According to Sky Sports, an ambitious Aston Villa side have entered advanced negotiations to sign one of Europe’s finest left-backs.
If The Athletic are to be believed, the shock signing of Philippe Coutinho has convinced Digne, another former Barcelona benchwarmer, that Aston Villa are a club where he can achieve his lofty ambitions.
It seems that the 28-year-old was not quite so enamoured by Newcastle’s offer however.
While Kieran Trippier was willing to risk his place in England’s World Cup squad by joining a club just one point off the bottom of the Premier League and circling the relegation plug-hole, Digne was not.
Even if the former PSG youngster was interested in Newcastle’s offer, The Sun believes that his ‘staggering’ contract demands would have put pay to the prospect of a January move to St James’ Park.
Digne currently earns £100,000-a-week.
Such an outlay would barely scratch the surface of their Saudi owners’ £500 billion fortune but, as The Sun point out, Newcastle would prefer to avoid handing out eye-watering contracts to new signings.
Understandable really.
Advertising yourself as a club willing to hand over silly money to prospective signings risks attracting the wrong sort of character.
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