Villa Agree £25m Fee for Everton’s Digne


Aston Villa have agreed a fee with Everton for left-back Lucas Digne worth up to £25m.

It follows several days of negotiations, in which Villa have beaten off interest from Chelsea, Newcastle and West Ham.

Digne is due in Birmingham later on Wednesday to undergo a medical.

The 28-year-old, who has three-and-a-half years remaining on his Everton contract, told the club he wants to depart Goodison Park this month.

Steven Gerrard is set to bring in his second signing as manager following the arrival of his former Liverpool team-mate Philippe Coutinho.

Villa are also interested in signing Brighton midfielder Yves Bissouma as he enters the final 18 months of his contract at the Amex Stadium.

Last season, Lucas Digne was Everton's top chance creator

Sky Sports News had been told Everton wanted £30m for Digne, one of Rafael Benitez’s star players who joined from Barcelona in 2018.

Digne has been out of the Everton side after a much-publicised falling out with Benitez over tactics and addressing the matter last week, their manager confirmed that the defender had told the club he wants to leave.

“He’s been very clear,” Benitez said. “I want to ask a question to every fan and former players – what Peter Reid would do if a player comes out and says he doesn’t want to be there?

“That’s it – simple. I’ve had a couple of conversations with him and he told me what he thought so what do you expect the manager to do when a player is thinking of leaving?”

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