Lyon want Everton defender Digne in January recruitment drive

Lyon are eyeing a January approach for Everton defender Lucas Digne, according to reports.

The French Ligue 1 club have struggled for domestic consistency this season so far, with manager Sylvinho paying the price in October, having been sacked and replaced by Rudi Garcia.

Lyon’s situation went from bad to worse last weekend as they lost 1-0 to Rennes, in the process losing both Memphis Depay and Jeff-Reine Adelaide to cruciate knee ligament injuries in the same game.

With the duo both out for the season, and with Lyon languishing in mid-table, the club’s director of football Juninho has become determined to find strong January recruits to bolster the club’s squad, and Everton full-back Digne has made that list.

The 26-year old has fast become one of the Toffees’ best players since signing from Barcelona in 2018 for just £18million, effortlessly replacing Leighton Baines as the club’s first choice left-back.

Now Lyon want to bring him back to France, according to Le Parisien (via Sport Witness), claiming the club want players who can settle in relatively quickly in January, indicating that French speakers would be ideal.

Thomas Lemar and former Everton target Steven Nzonzi are also considered to be targets who could improve the French club.

Read Everton Verdict

There is absolutely no way that Everton even consider letting Lucas Digne go in January, not for any price.

Leighton Baines was such an important player for Everton over the past decade that it had appeared almost impossible to replace him so quickly and so easily, but Digne has done that with confidence, and it would take an awfully big fee to prise him away from Goodison Park.

However, midway through the season and with Everton in a really tough spot in the Premier League as it stands, there is absolutely no way it ever happens. Everton’s board wouldn’t even entertain the thought.