Lucas Digne coming off second-best in Alex Moreno tussle at Aston Villa – Sky Sports journalist
Dan Bardell believes that Aston Villa haven’t seen anywhere near the best of Lucas Digne in a claret and blue top and that the Frenchman is coming off second-best in the selection tussle with Alex Moreno.
Since signing at Villa Park in January 2022 for a deal up to worth £25million, Digne has struggled to nail down a spot in both Steven Gerrard’s and Emery’s regular starting line-ups, partly down to a string of ill-timed injuries, but also due to a drop off in form.
Ashley Young, who is primarily a right-back, stepped into Digne’s shoes at times during the early season struggles, while the signing of Real Betis full-back Moreno in the January transfer window has added yet further competition for the ex-Everton man.
The 29-year-old is contracted at Villa Park until June 2026 but could now be in line for a sustained battle for his spot in the first-team, with Moreno having started Villa’s last three Premier League games, recording two clean sheets in this time.
Speaking exclusively to Villa News, Sky Sports and The Athletic’s Dan Bardell admitted that if he was picking a team for a cup final, Moreno would be selected ahead of the 46-capped France international.
“I don’t think Aston Villa have seen anywhere near the best of what Lucas Digne is capable of,” he said.
“I don’t know what it is, but apart from a free kick against Manchester United, he hasn’t had any other standout moments in a Villa top that fans can recall.
“I have been disappointed with how that signing has gone, for somebody who was the France left-back for a long time and the wages he is on, I would expect a lot more than what Villa have got from Digne.
“At the moment, if I was picking a team for a cup final, Alex Moreno would be in my team, because his all-round game is better than Digne’s, he is better going forward and he suits what Emery wants a lot better.
“Villa fans didn’t particularly think we needed a left-back in January, but there is a reason that Emery chose to bring Moreno in, and I don’t think that reflects well on what he thinks of Digne, in terms of him being the main left-back for years to come.
“It will be interesting to see what happens in the summer, but the problem is that he cost a lot of money and is on some big wages and Villa are unlikely to recoup that money back because his performances haven’t been to a top level.”
With some crucial matches against the likes of Chelsea, Brentford, Brighton and Liverpool awaiting Emery’s Europe-chasing side before the end of the season, it will soon become clear who his number-one selection at left-back is.
Digne has struggled to assert his dominance in the tussle so far, but Emery will hope the added competition will push both players to new heights.
In other Aston Villa news, the club has been tipped to sign a new striker to aid their bid to return to European football.