Villa News Speaking to Ty Bracey

Thu 15 June 2023 18:27, UK

We’re delighted to welcome Aston Villa podcaster Ty Bracey as our exclusive Aston Villa columnist each week he’ll be giving his views on the biggest talking points at the club…

Ty Bracey believes Aston Villa will still be open to accepting offers for Lucas Digne this summer despite the hamstring injury sustained by fellow left-back Alex Moreno.

The 29-year-old, who signed for Villa in the January transfer window, sustained a hamstring injury in the 1-1 draw against Liverpool in May, and could be set to miss the beginning of the 2023/24 Premier League campaign after undergoing surgery.

Unai Emery revealed that the Spaniard would be out for “two to three months” and likely to return around the beginning of the season. [BBC Sport, 26 May]

After the arrival of Moreno in the winter window, France international Digne has struggled for game time, starting just five out of the last 19 games of the Premier League season.

Speaking exclusively to Villa News, Bracey admitted that the Frenchman’s lucrative contract could determine whether Villa part ways with him in the summer.

“If a club come knocking for Digne, I don’t think they’ll say no,” he said.

“I think they will accept a bid for him if the right offer comes in. It boils down to whether a club come in for him, if his wages are going to be an issue.

“If they are, I trust Emery to delve back into the market and get an alternative player.

“It’s a lot of money to have on the wage bill for somebody who isn’t going to be starting every week, even if Moreno is out for the beginning of the season.”

Villa started their summer spending with the addition of Leicester City midfielder Youri Tielemans on a free transfer.

Emery is expected to bolster his ranks significantly after the club qualified for the Europa Conference League on the last day of the season.

In other Aston Villa news, a dribble-shy player must sharpen up his attacking instincts to be a hit under Unai Emery next season.