Chelsea look set to bow out of the race for rumoured longstanding target Lucas Digne with Aston Villa in pole position to land the French wing-back’s signature.
The Midlanders are poised for bringing in the Everton man who has been on the fringes at Goodison Park of late and will be in line to demand a move elsewhere in the winter transfer window.
An injury to Ben Chilwell had forced the Chelsea boss Thomas Tuchel to scout the market this January for reinforcements with speculation rife that Digne was a top name on the shopping list for the west Londoners.
Aston Villa have been working for days to sign Lucas Digne. They've always been frontrunners – Chelsea out of the race 🇫🇷 #AVFC
Talks on, not 100% agreed yet between clubs. El Ghazi also been discussed – nothing agreed on this point as Everton want cash. Next week will be key. pic.twitter.com/4AHBRXiYal
— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) January 9, 2022
Fabrizio Romano, however, has sounded out claims that Chelsea are no longer in the mix for the former Barcelona man with Steven Gerrard’s Villa leading the race to secure his signing with talks underway between the two clubs.
Tuchel, meanwhile, could be forced into issuing a recall for Chelsea loanee Emerson Palmieri who was shipped out on a season-long arrangement to Ligue 1 side Lyon in the summer after being deemed surplus to requirements.
