Everton & Barcelona Continue Mina & Digne Discussions
By Tom Power
Talks progressing between Toffees and La Blaugrana over Mina & Digne
Everton‘s double raid on Barcelona pair Yerry Mina and Lucas Digne appears to be moving forward ahead of the new season.
The Toffees are trying to enlist the talents of the defensive duo ahead of the transfer deadline on Thursday 9th August.
Goal has claimed that Everton’s pursuit of Mina will depend on Barcelona being willing to sell the centre-back for a fee thought to be in the region of £15m.
The Liverpool Echo, meanwhile, has carried quotes from Marco Silva about the club’s chase for Digne.
The Portuguese gaffer spoke to Sport TV after the Blues’ 1-0 defeat to Porto on Sunday evening and stated that he “couldn’t hide” the fact that Everton wanted to land the left-back.
Mina and Digne have emerged as key targets for Silva and director of football Marcel Brands in recent weeks.
The new Blues managerial duo want to secure their signatures to bolster an ageing backline at Goodison Park.
At 23 and 25 respectively, Mina and Digne would reduce the age bracket in defence and push the likes of Phil Jagielka, Ashley Williams and Leighton Baines for a starting berth.
Barcelona are still mulling over Everton’s dual offer as they weigh up selling the pair to the Premier League outfit.
Both players are thought to be intrigued by the prospect of plying their trade in England’s top flight, but Barcelona are standing firm for now.
The Catalan giants want to insert a buy-back clause in Mina’s Everton contract to ensure they have first refusal on luring him away from Merseyside if he impresses there.
Digne, meanwhile, is frustrated over a lack of game time with Barcelona but Ernesto Valverde doesn’t want to lose him without bringing in a replacement as back up for Jordi Alba.
Both players would make good signing for Everton. They’re the right age, have bags of talent and would create more competition for places.
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Shelling out around £40m for the duo would be good business and, coupled with the rumoured £40m arrival of Watford star Richarlison, would go some way to appeasing Evertonian frustration at a lack of incomings.