Report: Everton defender Lucas Digne on Lyon radar

Add as preferred source on Google

Everton’s Lucas Digne is reportedly wanted by French top-flight club Lyon.

According to Le Parisien, Lyon are keen to sign some experienced players in the January transfer window to strengthen their youthful squad and have three players in their sights.

It is understood that Toffees defender Digne is one of their targets, while Atletico Madrid’s Thomas Lemar and on-loan Galatasaray star Steven Nzonzi are also wanted.

The report explains that Lyon would prefer French-speaking players to arrive in the New Year and make an instant impact for them, but it’s unclear on what their budget will be.

Lyon have qualified to the Champions League last-16 where they will face Juventus, but domestically are underperforming and sit eight in Ligue 1.

Digne is a France international that ticks boxes for them, but he’s under contract at Goodison Park until 2023 and is considered one of the best players for the Toffees.

He’s on a £90,000-a-week contract (Spotrac) with the Merseyside club and has been a success in the Premier League so far.

The Mail has also reported that Everton are lining up a new contract for him and that he’s valued in excess of £70million.

TBR’s View:

Digne is certainly one of the most influential players at Everton and should not be sold under any circumstances in the near future, regardless of who the next full-time manager is.

He’s one of the most consistent left-backs in the Premier League and should be one of the players a new manager builds his team around.

The 26-year-old should be entering the peak years of his career and Everton have been extremely fortunate to find such a strong successor to veteran Leighton Baines so quickly.

Lyon are an attractive outfit in the knockout rounds of the Champions League, but it would be a major surprise to see him transfer anytime soon.