'On shortlist' - £25m Aston Villa gem eyed for shock Champions League transfer amid Liverpool revelation

Atletico Madrid are reportedly interested in signing Aston Villa left-back Lucas Digne this summer, but only if they reach a standstill in negotiations with Liverpool over an alternative.

Cesar Azpilicueta and Reinildo Mandava are out of contract this summer, so Atletico are looking for viable replacements. Head coach Diego Simeone has become renowned for an intense and aggressive style of football at the Wanda Metropolitano and he hopes that Liverpool’s Andrew Robertson could fit into that.

Robertson, a Champions League winner and two-time Premier League champion, is expected to leave Anfield this summer due to the pending arrival of AFC Bournemouth left-back Milos Kerkez. Robertson is now 31 and beyond his prime years, though still has plenty to give and deserves a starting spot.

Transferring to Atletico could be a great solution, though talks are reportedly stalling between Liverpool and the La Liga giants over the transfer fee. The Times reports Atletico are hoping to pay just €5 million (£4.25m) to secure Robertson’s services but the Reds are seeking more.

If negotiations completely stall for Robertson, the report suggests Atletico have now shortlisted Villa’s Digne as a plan B. Meanwhile, transfer news specialist Fabrizio Romano has confirmed Atletico are considering Digne as a viable alternative to Robertson but would only be willing to pay a small fee for the France international.

Will Aston Villa let Lucas Digne leave?

Villa, despite being under pressure to sell players to comply with the Premier League’s profit and sustainability rules (PSR), are reluctant to let Digne leave this summer. Instead, the Villans are looking to sacrifice the likes of Emiliano Martinez and Leon Bailey, hoping to rake in significant transfer fees for the pair.

In the case of Digne, he’s one of the highest earners at Villa Park and may need to be sold for a different reason. Not only are Villa walking a fine line with PSR, but the UEFA squad cost rules (SCR) are also proving to be tricky to follow. Clubs in UEFA competitions can spend a maximum of 70 per cent of their revenue on player wages and Villa are currently failing in that regard.

So, then, Digne could theoretically leave if Atletico were to make an approach but it’s still unlikely. Head coach Unai Emery would much prefer to keep Digne as the former Barcelona and Paris Saint-Germain defender has been rotating effectively with Ian Maatsen at left-back. There aren’t many better crossers of the ball in the Premier League than Digne, either, so he’d be a big loss.

Since joining from Everton for £25 million in 2022, Digne has racked up 138 appearances for Villa, more than he has for any other club in his career. The 31-year-old has scored four goals and provided 17 assists in those matches, with his most productive campaign in a creative sense being his most recent.

With just one year left on his Villa contract, Digne’s time in B6 could be coming to a close. Whether it’s this summer or next summer that he leaves awaits to be seen.