According to a recent report by ESPN, Manchester City have identified Everton left-back Lucas Digne as a summer target. However, the same source has also mentioned that the Citizens will face stiff competition from Chelsea in pursuit of the French defender this summer.
Digne’s Solid Form At Merseyside This Season
Digne has enjoyed another impressive season at Goodison Park after producing a series of productive displays on the left side of the Toffees defence. He has participated in 35 matches for the Merseyside club this term, scoring one goal while providing eight assists in all competitions which showcase just how creative he can be in the opposition half.
The former Lille defender has been consistent with his performances down the left flank based on his average of 2.2 tackles, 1.2 interceptions, 2.6 clearances, 0.9 shots, 2.2 key passes, 2.1 crosses and 0.7 dribbles per game in the Premier League this season. However, he has been a bit sloppy with his ball-distribution after completing 73.8% of his attempted passes in league football so far (stats via whoscored).
The 26-year-old has also secured 30 senior caps for the French national team but is still waiting to open his goal-scoring account for his country. Maybe a change of scenery this summer could give him a more prominent platform to showcase his skills and catch the attention of Les Bleus boss Didier Deschamps ahead of next year’s UEFA European Championship finals.
What Does The French International Bring To The Table?
Digne can use his quickness and excellent ball-control to make some driving runs down the left-wing. He is also known to be a set-piece specialist due to his ability to cross the ball with a lot of curve from the wide areas. The French full-back has proven his worth as a decent playmaker at Merseyside over the past couple of seasons. He is also a capable defender at the back as he hardly gets beat in a 1v1 foot chase with the opposition.
Is Digne The Right Choice For The Citizens?
A left-back of Digne’s skillset will be a brilliant addition to Pep Guardiola’s squad if the Spanish head coach can find a way to convince the player to seal a move to the Etihad Stadium this summer. He will not only add a lot of creativity to the Man City backline but also improve the overall quality of their first-team next season. Plus, Digne will be a significant upgrade over Benjamin Mendy and Oleksandr Zinchenko due to his consistency at both ends of the field.
At 26, the Everton wide player is currently playing at his prime, so he could prove to be an excellent choice for the Citizens before the start of the new campaign. Digne will also help the Mancunian giants bridge the gap to Liverpool at the summit of English football so that they can win even more silverware in the years to come.
