Everton are planning to offer Lucas Digne a long-term contract after tying Richarlison down to a deal which runs until 2024, according to the Daily Mail.
Digne has been a mainstay of the first-team since his £18million move from FC Barcelona in August 2018, and saw his efforts at Goodison Park last term rewarded with the club’s Player of the Season and Players’ Player of the Season awards.
His efforts also led to interest from Tottenham Hotspur in the summer market, but the club were able to ward-off the North Londoners’ intrigue to retain the 26-year-old’s services.
Having extended Richarlison’s commitment to the Blues until 2024 with an improved contract, club chiefs are now keen to do likewise with Digne, whose current £90,000-per-week deal does not expire until 2023.
The board clearly see Digne as a key part of what they are trying to build on Merseyside, as they feel the full-back would be worth a staggering £70m if he were sold, given the current market.
Manchester City signed Joao Cancelo from Juventus last summer for £60m, having previously spent an initial £45m on Kyle Walker and £52m on Benjamin Mendy. Real Madrid also purchased Ferland Mendy from Olympique Lyonnais in June for £47.1m.
Would you accept a £70m bid for Digne?
Yes
No way
Digne has remained a key figure at Goodison Park since the start of the current campaign, and has been awarded the captain’s armband in Premier League and Carabao Cup fixtures by Marco Silva.
The 28-cap international was also able to regain his place in the Les Bleus line-up following his switch from the Camp Nou last year, having been omitted from Didier Deschamps 2018 World Cup plans.
In other Everton news, the club are believed to be chasing a record-breaking wonderkid putting European giants on alert.