Aston Villa are “not particularly happy” with a first-team star, and Unai Emery is looking to “replace” him in the summer transfer window.
Villa making summer plans amid Champions League push
With Emery’s side eight points clear of sixth-placed Liverpool, they are in a strong position to qualify for the Champions League, which means Villa Park is likely to be an attractive destination at the end of the season.
A top-five finish isn’t the only route into Europe’s elite competition, however, with Emery making it clear his side are determined to win a trophy this season: “The Europa League is important. Very important. We can get a trophy. It is going to be very difficult, but we are very motivated.
“The Premier League is the priority. We are really fantastic in the table. We must be so proud of where we are in the table and everything we are doing.”
It hasn’t all been plane sailing for the Villans, with Emery bizarrely suggesting his side aren’t top-five contenders after the 1-0 defeat against Everton last month.
That interview perhaps suggests the manager believes he needs to upgrade his squad in the summer, and former Villa scout Mick Brown has now stated the Spaniard wants to replace Lucas Digne.
Brown said: “I expect Villa will be looking to replace Digne.
“I’m told they’re not particularly happy with how he’s been playing recently, and if they can identify somebody to come in and replace him, they’ll want to do it.
“Left-back is a position Emery wants to strengthen in, so I expect they’ll do it in the summer.
“Digne isn’t a bad player, but he’s also not a real top player either. If Villa want to be a top team, he’s somebody they need to improve on.”
Digne in poor form heading into business end of the season
The Frenchman has been a regular starter for Aston Villa this season, making 30 appearances in all competitions, but he has been in poor form of late, failing to make it off the bench in two of the last three Premier League matches.
Against Newcastle United in the FA Cup last time out, the 32-year-old struggled, receiving a SofaScore match rating of just 6.0, after winning only one of the three ground duels he contested.
Forget Bizot: Aston Villa star looks finished under Emery after Newcastle
Aston Villa crashed out of the FA Cup at the hands of fellow Premier League side Newcastle United, as Marco Bizot’s red card stole the headlines.
The left-back, who pockets £135k-a-week, has been a key player for Villa across the last five seasons, which indicates Emery rates him highly, but given that he is set to turn 33 in July, it is definitely time to start thinking about a long-term replacement.
Should Emery’s side qualify for the Champions League, they should be able to attract a top-quality option, but left-back is not the only area in which they are looking to strengthen, with a Bundesliga star also of interest…