Aston Villa receive surprise bid for £25.7m defender after £37.5m acquisition

Galatasaray have reportedly submitted an ambitious loan bid to sign Aston Villa left-back Lucas Digne.

The Turkish Super Lig champions are eager to add quality in defence as they seek to defend their title and succeed in the UEFA Champions League. Digne, who was a very reliable option for Villa last campaign, is a priority target.

French publication Foot Mercato reports Galatasaray see Digne as a “sure bet” and are interested in bringing him to Ali Sami Yen Spor Kompleksi. An offer has been sent to Villa to sign him on a temporary basis, until the end of the 2024/25 season.

Digne still has just under two years left on his Villa contract and remains an important player. As a result, Unai Emery is unlikely to entertain Galatasaray’s bid, especially as it’s not a permanent deal being proposed.

This is the case even despite the Villans’ recent acquisition of Ian Maatsen from Chelsea. The Netherlands international, purchased for £37.5 million, is expected to challenge Digne for a starting spot with the game time to be shared.

Formerly of LOSC Lille, Paris Saint-Germain, AS Roma and Barcelona, Digne has racked up 37 appearances in UEFA club competitions since 2012. The 31-year-old has already played 93 times for Villa since joining from Everton for around £25.7 million in January 2022.

Interest in Digne also remains fom Saudi Arabia, so Villa may soon have more bids to consider. The club would prefer to offload Alex Moreno, though no offers have been received for the Spaniard as it stands.