Steven Gerrard has indicated that Aston Villa are interested in striking a deal for Everton’s Premier League outcast Lucas Digne in the January transfer window, speaking to The Express.
While Gerrard was reluctant to give too much away, he did admit that there is ‘no smoke without fire’.
At this stage, it feels rather futile for the Aston Villa boss to distance himself from reports linking Digne to the Second City.
It’s common knowledge, after all, that Villa are prioritising a new left-back this month with Everton’s France international the number one target.
According to Sky Sports, Aston Villa are expected to fight off competition from Newcastle, West Ham United and Chelsea with a deal in the region of £25 million edging ever closer.
Will Lucas Digne leave Everton for Aston Villa?
“We are working hard on targets,” Gerrard admitted when asked about Digne following Monday’s narrow 1-0 FA Cup third round defeat to Manchester United.
“It is not respectful to mention any names but there is no smoke without fire and we want to try and improve certain areas of our team and our squad.”
Digne is not the only left-back on Aston Villa’s radar.
Bologna whizzkid Aaron Hickey has been linked too, as have a pair of Croatian internationals named Borna; Barisic and Sosa.
As far as Digne is concerned, swapping Everton for the Holte End may feel to some like a bit of a sidewards step. But play down Aston Villa’s ambition at your own risk.
Bankrolled by billionaires Wes Edens and Nayef Sawiris, Villa have already snapped up Philippe Coutinho on loan from Barcelona this month, a deal that really captured the imagination even if the Brazil international is not the same player who left Liverpool for Catalonia four years ago.
According to The Athletic, Coutinho’s high-profile arrival has gone some way to convincing Digne that Aston Villa is a club where he can realise his own lofty ambitions.
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