Daniel Feliciano

Tue 10 January 2023 14:59, UK

Aston Villa are close to completing their first signing of the Unai Emery era after they agreed a fee for Real Betis defender Alex Morono.

The Villans are set to spend around £12.5m on the left-back, with a medical to take place in the next 24 hours before putting pen to paper on a deal according to Sky Sports reporter Rob Dorsett.

But as Emery looks to bolster his squad and shape it into his own image at the first given opportunity during the January window, what does this deal mean for current left-back Lucas Digne?

The France international joined the club last January as former Villa manager Steven Gerrard looked to do the same thing when he paid Everton £27m to sign him.

Digne has been a regular on the left-hand side of the defence ever since, and has started three of the four games since the World Cup break after being out injured when Emery first arrived at the club.

His crossing has always been among his strongest attributes, while his energy to get up and down the pitch is something that has never let him down either. His age isn’t an issue either, with both he and Moreno being 29 years old.

But where Digne’s best attributes are largely going forward, Moreno is a true defender.

Stats website WhoScored have his strengths listed as “concentration” and “tackling,” while his weaknesses are said to be “crossing” and “aerial duels”. That isn’t ideal in the Premier League, but suggests a slightly more pragmatic approach.

The decision to sign Moreno almost certainly spells the end of Ludwig Augustinsson’s time at the club, although his loan is set to run until the end of the season. Then there is also Ashley Young, who has shown that he is part of Emery’s plans.

This isn’t a signing for the future due to his age, so it’s clearly to go straight into the starting lineup – and with that fee anything other than would leave huge question marks.

So Digne’s time at Villa may not be safe either, but both players will have the final half of the season to stake their claim for the role.

If Emery is intent on using Moreno and a more defensive approach, then Digne certainly won’t be short of suitors going forward, but fans may not be best pleased at losing another offensive outlet when they’ve been struggling to find the back of the net.

But after being given the longest contract for any manager in the club’s history, he must be backed, and that is what the club is doing.