Transfer News: Chelsea set to battle PL duo for star Everton defender

Chelsea set to battle with Newcastle United and Leicester City for Lucas Digne

According to The Sunday People by the Mirror (h/t Metro), Newcastle United and Leicester City have entered the race to sign Chelsea target Lucas Digne in the January transfer window. 

Lucas Digne cemented his spot in the Everton team after consistent performances in the last few seasons. This season, the former Barcelona star has made 13 Premier League appearances. The 28-year-old full-back even earned the armband after a series of good performances. 

However, Digne’s career has taken a U-turn. The French player has fallen out with current manager Rafa Benitez and after the clash, the former Liverpool manager even suspended him for a few matches. 

But the situation is far from over as it is believed that Toffees are currently considering selling him in January and are close to securing Vitaliy Mykolenko’s signature from Dynamo Kyiv to fill that position. 

Chelsea were believed to be interested in the defender. However, it seems the Blues would have to battle it out with Newcastle United and Leicester City to secure the deal in the winter transfer window. 

Ben Chilwell gave exceptional performances this season under Thomas Tuchel. The British defender was the talk of the town earlier this season after his marauding showings down the left flank caught the eye of fans around the world. But his knee injury has made it difficult for the former PSG manager to find an ideal solution for the position. 

Ageing Marcos Alonso has become rusty and is struggling to cope with the intensity of the fast-paced game. Anyone who follows the team closely this season would attest to that.

The situation reached a point where the German manager used Saúl Ñíguez as a full back to cover up for the absence of Chilwell, visible in the 3-3 draw against Zenit in the UEFA Champions League.

Chelsea certainly need some reinforcements in the winter transfer window to bolster their full-back options. As the Premier League is ravaged by a sudden surge of covid cases, we can never be certain regarding which player can be sidelined when. 

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Thus, Digne could become a viable option for the position. The French defender has the top-flight experience, which could come in handy. On the other hand, he has been involved in attacking transitions for Everton. Thomas Tuchel has been appreciative of such qualities at Chelsea, and the former Barcelona man could be the man to compete with Chilwell for a spot down the left-hand side for years to come.