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View: Lucas Digne could be hoping for Aston Villa opportunity against former club Everton
Lucas Digne will be highly motivated as Aston Villa face off against his former club Everton this weekend, and Unai Emery should give him a chance to impress.
The Frenchman joined the Villans from Goodison Park in a surprise and swift £25m deal in January 2022, but his time at the club has bore any fruit, with his performances not matching the expectations when he joined.
Digne has managed two goals and four assists from 36 Premier League games and is currently failing to establish himself under Unai Emery, failing to complete a 90-minute match since New Years Day.
More crucially, Villa intentionally went out in the January market and strengthened the left-back position, going on to sign Real Betis defender Alex Moreno, and Digne has seen his game time fluctuate in recent weeks.
The former Everton is certainly facing an uncertain future at Villa Park, with plenty of reports [Football Insider, 11 January] emerging that the West Midlands outfit were willing to listen to offers for the Frenchman last month, but any move failed to materialise.
However, it remains to be seen whether Aston Villa could be set to write him off just yet, with Emery still assessing his options ahead of a huge summer rebuild incoming, and the defence will arguably be in the most need of addressing.
With Digne’s contract at Villa Park running till 2026, he still has plenty of room to improve his chance of becoming a vital member of Emery’s squad, starting against his old club Everton on Saturday.
The defender left Goodison Park on bad terms last year, and with his future in the top flight in serious jeopardy, Digne will be knocking on Emery’s door hoping to start against his old club.
The ball is certainly in his court, if he is to hold down a regular place in Emery’s plans in the future.