Aston Villa champion cherished by the leading League rivals

Nottingham Forest are interested in signing Aston Villa defender Lucas Digne this summer, but any attempts to bring the Frenchman to the City Ground would have to overcome the obstacle of his high wages. Digne will compete with January addition Alex Moreno for the left-back position at Villa Park this season, although Unai Emery like to have two players competing in every position.

Digne, who joined Villa from Everton 18 months ago after signing for Steven Gerrard, shared the left-back position in the final parts of the season with Spaniard Moreno, as the Lions secured a place in the Europa Conference League ahead of the next season. They’ve showed an interest in Forest midfielder Brennan Johnson, but the Telegraph reports that the Reds may come calling for a Villa player.

Forest, who avoided relegation for the second year in a row last season, are looking for a new left-back after loanee Renan Lodi returned to Atletico Madrid. Attempts to bring the player back permanently appear to have failed, with Lodi appearing to be on his way to France to join Marseille. Meanwhile, the FA has punished the club’s other left-back, Harry Toffolo, with breaking gambling rules.

 

Digne’s salary, though, could be the stumbling block to any potential deal; the left-back, who turns 30 this summer, is said to earn £120,000 per week, which Forest cannot match. Switching between the two teams would consequently necessitate Digne taking a pay cut. Alternatively, the two teams might consider a loan move before the start of the new season, but this would be a temporary arrangement. Digne has previously been associated with the OGC Nice.

Digne cost Villa £25 million when he left Goodison Park for the Second City, and he has made 47 appearances in the season and a half since signing. Last season, he scored two goals for Villa, one in the EFL Cup thrashing of Bolton and the other in Emery’s first game in charge, a win over Manchester United.

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