Aston Villa transfer latest with defender Lucas Digne linked with a move away to Nottingham Forest this summer

 

Aston Villa defender Lucas Digne is wanted by Nottingham Forest this summer, but any attempts to take the Frenchman to the City Ground would have to overcome the hurdle of his hefty wages. Digne is battling with January signing Alex Moreno for the left-back spot at Villa Park heading into the new season, but Unai Emery ideally wants two players competing in every position.

 

Digne, who arrived at Villa when signing for Steven Gerrard from Everton 18 months ago, shared the left-back spot in the closing stages of the season with Spaniard Moreno, as the Lions secured a place in the Europa Conference League ahead of the new campaign. They’ve shown an interest in Forest star Brennan Johnson, but the Telegraph report that the Reds could come calling for a player of Villa’s own.

 

Forest, who secured a second straight season in the Premier League when avoiding relegation last year, are in the market for a new left-back after loanee Renan Lodi returned to Atletico Madrid. Attempts to bring the player back permanently appear to have hit a wall, with Lodi looking set to head to France and join Marseille. Meanwhile Harry Toffolo, the club’s other left-back, has been charged by the FA over alleged breaches of gambling rules.

 

Digne’s salary could be where any potential move falls down, however; the left-back, who is 30 this summer, is reported to be on £120,000 a week and that’d be a wage that Forest couldn’t match. Switching between the two clubs, therefore, would require Digne to take a wage cut. Alternatively, the two clubs could discuss a loan move ahead of the new season, but that’d be a short-term arrangement. Digne has previously been linked with OGC Nice.

 

French international Digne cost Villa £25m when he left Goodison Park to relocate to the Second City, and he has made 47 appearances in the season and a half since joining. He scored his two Villa goals last season, in the EFL Cup rout at Bolton and in Emery’s first game in charge, the win over Manchester United.