The latest Aston Villa transfer news from B6, as Lucas Digne’s transfer is officially confirmed, Anwar El Ghazi moves out on loan and the latest updates on any move for Yves Bissouma.
LUCAS DIGNE
Embed from Getty ImagesVilla today confirmed the very welcome signing of France and Everton left-back Lucas Digne.
Digne makes the switch to Villa Park for a fee that could rise up to £25 million pounds.
As reported on these pages previously, Villa moved swiflty after Digne’s relationship with former manager Rafa Benitez deteriorated. The Spaniard’s public comments about the 28 year old’s attitude proved to be the final straw, resulting in Digne formally requesting to leave Goodison Park.
Everton’s loss is Villa’s gain, immediately strengthening a weakness at left back and bringing quality competition for the clubs only senior player in that position, Matt Targett.
Digne arrives with a strong CV, including both La Liga and Lique 1 winners medals with Barcelona and PSG respectively. He’s also represented his country at the Euros and a World Cup. Happy days.
Featured Image Credit
EL GHAZI LOAN
The Dutchman, peripheral of late at Villa Park, will join Everton for the remainder of the 2021/2022 campaign on loan. The deal is unconnected to that of the arrival of Digne.
This seems like a good move for both the player and Villa, with game-time set to be further reduced with the arrival of Brazilian star Philippe Coutinho. Villa initially loaned El Ghazi from Lille, before making the deal permanent for around £8m in 2019 following promotion to. thetop flight. It’s understood a fee of £15m would secure a permanent switch to The Toffees come the summer, but that FFP is problematic.
Whilst decidedly inconsistent, the winger contributed at key moments in the clubs resurrection, including a goal and assist in the Championship playoff final triumph over Derby County at Wembley. We wish him well.
YVES BISSOUMA
This remains an intriguing transfer rumour for a player valued at anywhere between £40m-£50m by south coast side Brighton. It’s an eye watering amount speculated, there’s no doubt about it. However, this is arguably the window where anything is possible from a Villa perspective, indeed, few would have imaged that a deal for Coutinho could have been achieved just a matter of weeks ago.
Bissouma is currently away with Mali, which raises the question as to whether negotiations have already taken place or indeed how they are progressing in a practical sense with AFCON in full swing.
Whilst Coutinho stands as a coup in terms of attracting a top name, Bissouma is hot property too with Chelsea, Liverpool and Arsenal having been tracking the midfielder since last year. What is clear though, is that the 25 year old is under contract at Brighton for another 18 months and any deal would likely smash Villa’s transfer record of £34.5m paid for Emi Buendia.
In a sign of potential movement, Brighton have recalled reinforcements back from loan with Villa “determined” to step up interest in securing Bissouma. Villa’s hierarchy will now however to mull their appetite for a testing Brighton’s resolve with a £50m bid (yikes), whilst ensuring that due diligence is also completed in relation to any outstanding alleged legal matters the player reportedly has still to see concluded.
MORE: Aston Villa Transfer News & Rumour