Lucas Digne: Aston Villa tipped to sign ‘£15m’ defender after injury expert’s update
Aston Villa will sell Matt Targett to Newcastle and sign an upgrade with the funds they receive.
That’s according to former Leeds United stopper Paddy Kenny, speaking exclusively to Football Insider after Lucas Digne picked up an injury.
Digne, 28, limped off with a suspected hamstring injury after just eight minutes as Aston Villa fell to a 2-1 away defeat at West Ham on 13 March.
Injury expert and Football Insider pundit Ben Dinnery told this site on Thursday (17 March) he has “massive concerns” about the defender coming back too quickly.
Targett, 26, joined Newcastle in January, depleting Steven Gerrard’s options at left-back.
Chronicle Live reported on 8 March the Magpies have agreed a £15million fee with Aston Villa for Targett and Kenny insists Villa will use this money to sign backup for Digne.
“Targett won’t want to stay as a number two and Digne is clearly the favourite,” Kenny told Football Insider correspondent Ben Wild.
“So Targett can go and that nets Villa a decent little fee of £15million, that is more than enough to get you a decent backup defender.
“They could even keep it bring one of the young lads in from the academy.
“They do look a bit thin in that area of the pitch and I think Digne will be a huge loss for them.
“Something needs to happen there in the summer, if there are going to get this money from Newcastle it just makes sense to go out and buy another left-back with that.”
Digne has made eight appearances since joining Aston Villa in the January window.
Gerrard’s side paid Everton a reported £25million fee for the left-back’s services.
In other news, medical expert claims Aston Villa star “at risk” after injury update.