Unai Emery confirms Lucas Digne transfer decision after Aston Villa ace receives strong interest
Latest Aston Villa news from BirminghamLive as Unai Emery confirms Lucas Digne will remain at the club
Unai Emery has confirmed Lucas Digne will stay at Aston Villa despite being of interest to a number of clubs this summer.
Digne had started all four of Villa’s opening games to the new campaign before the Europa Conference League play-off second leg at Villa Park on Thursday night. He recorded three assists in the first leg last Wednesday and also impressed in the club’s Premier League victories over Everton and Burnley.
Alex Moreno has been unavailable at the start of the season through injury, and missed the whole of pre-season. It handed Digne an opportunity to play his way into form under Emery.
The 30-year-old courted interest from several clubs this summer, including OGC Nice, and clubs in Italy. Saudi club Al-Hilal were also keen to sign the France international, but he will not be leaving Villa Park today or later this month.
Lucas Digne, he did a very, very good pre-season and I am very, very happy with him,” Emery confirmed. “I think he is very important to the squad and now I can tell that he is going to be with us.”
Ahead of the new season, Digne requested a new shirt number, and the club granted him that wish by swapping 27 for 12. He has previously plied his trade in France, Italy and in Spain, while he made 23 Champions League appearances across spells at Lille, Paris Saint-Germain, Roma and Barcelona. His experience will also be important in Villa’s Europa Conference League campaign this season.
