According to Marca, Atletico Madrid are angling for a move for a new left-back, having added Lucas Digne as their latest option on the shortlist. There are other candidates such as Andy Robertson on their list, and it remains to be seen whether they land their key targets in the role.
Lucas Digne has been an important signing from Aston Villa’s perspective, as he will continue to be their main left-back heading to the new season. That is the view based on how the Frenchman ended the season under Unai Emery, who also had Ian Maatsen as a backup choice.
Aston Villa had invested £25 million to sign Digne from Everton back in January 2022, and the Frenchman has been an instrumental presence in that backline. The qualities like crossing as well as one-on-one defending he brings in could be useful for a club like Atletico Madrid, with the Spanish giants in with an interest in the Frenchman.
Diego Simeone has made it clear he wants an experienced left-back in his squad ahead of the new season having already targeted Andy Robertson from Liverpool. The Scottish full-back is also into the final year of his deal like Digne, which might be a strategy from Atletico Madrid to get a reasonable deal out of the clubs.
It remains to be seen whether Aston Villa plans to offer the £25 million wide man a new deal or accept a reasonable price in return for his departure. While Atletico Madrid have made a soft approach, there is no clarity on whether Digne is their priority choice, as Robertson may occupy that spot in the club’s thinking.
Simeone has preferred experienced defenders on multiple occasions as he believes they have a better grasp of his system in a short span. Hence, the idea of bringing some of these profiles, as the club are reportedly willing to pay well to sign Robertson.
As for Digne, he could be open to the prospect of playing in the Champions League, somethign he won’t have it at Aston Villa. With the Birmingham-based club also under scrutiny for PSR, there might be a chance for them to sell the France international at a decent rate, as they already have Maatsen to take over the first-choice role.
