Nice to target Lucas Digne for summer transfer move

Nice-Matin affirm that Ligue 1 side and INEOS-owned football OGC Nice intend to sign a left-back during the upcoming summer transfer window, with the board unhappy with the current options available to them of Melvin Bard and Ayoub Amraoui.

The club first attempted to address this positional need last summer through the loan signing of Joe Bryan from Fulham in a move led by INEOS Head of Sports Sir Dave Brailsford and the club’s former advisor, Iain Moody. The deal was unsuccessful and OGC Nice terminated the player’s loan 6-months early during the most recent January transfer window.

In place since January, the club’s new Sporting Director, Florent Ghisolfi, is understood to be looking at a number of possible experienced targets in this position including Portuguese international and Borussia Dortmund man Raphaël Guerreiro. The 29-year-old is out of contract in June.

In addition to Guerreiro, the club is also interested in Benfica’s Álex Grimaldo (27).

However, according to Mohamed Toubache-TER, OGC Nice’s priority target in this position is French international and Aston Villa full-back Lucas Digne.

The 29-year-old has lost his starting place in the Premier League outfit’s XI following the arrival of coach Unai Emery, which has coincided with a major upturn in form for the Villains who find themselves with an unlikely shot at qualifying for European football for next season.

Informal talks are believed to already be underway with the relevant parties including the player’s agent, Mikkel Beck.

James Thorpe | GFFN