Everton left-back Lucas Digne is expected to earn £8.5m a year (£163,000 a week) if he does complete his move to Aston Villa, according to reports.
West Ham, Newcastle and Chelsea were also interested in the Frenchman but Hammers supporters on Twitter agree that paying the fullback that much in wages would not have been sensible business anyway:
He ain't worth that..we.can get better value elsewhere.
— JR (@Johnryder48) January 10, 2022
To to think he would want more than zouma a week….. I'm glad we didn't sign him because there are better cheaper options out there but we do need to hurry up and some players
— Thomas edgell (@MkhammerMonk) January 10, 2022
Shows the character of the player money oriented. Not neeed
— Luke (@Luke87001602) January 10, 2022
Not proven enough for that money and has attitude problems so no loss
— West Ham way or maybe not ⚒⚒⚒ (@ham_maybe) January 10, 2022
Absolutely nuts transfer considering he was out of favour.
— Neil Fitzgerald (@NeilFitzUk) January 9, 2022
I’d take Villas current left back over him
— Gerard Finch (@gerard_finch) January 10, 2022
Reading the comments of Everton fans he is exactly the sort of player we need to avoid. Would rather we sign an established younger pro on sensible wages that can challenge/ gradually replace Cresswell.
— Dan Adams (@OneGrizzlyAdams) January 10, 2022
Digne is very over rated. Dont get me wrong he is ok, but over the last season he has lost a yard of pace and cant beat the front man on a corner
— Stephen Ross (@PorticoToffee) January 10, 2022
It does seem as though Digne has decided on a switch to Villa purely for financial reasons, rather than ambition. His falling out with manager Rafa Benitez at the Toffees would also have given West Ham boss David Moyes some reservations about going after him.
If they do miss out on Digne, as expected, the Irons will still be in the market for a left-back. Aaron Cresswell remains sidelined with a back problem and with the injury more serious than first feared, an attempt to bring in a backup is almost certain before the transfer window closes at the end of the month.
