View: Everton contract extension for Digne shows statement of intent
Since becoming Everton’s director of football in 2018, Marcel Brands has faced a number of challenges on Merseyside.
One of his biggest challenges was finding a long-term successor to club stalwart Leighton Baines, with the former England international seemingly impossible to replace.
However, the Dutchman struck gold at the first time of asking, signing Lucas Digne from Barcelona for what would prove to be a bargain fee of just £18million.
After almost three years at the club, the Frenchman further committed his future to the Blues by signing a new contract earlier this week, extending his stay until 2025.
Still only 27-years old, Digne’s extension serves as a major signal of intent from Everton, with clubs such as Chelsea and Manchester City linked the defender in the past 12 months.
Over the past few seasons Everton have been able to attract a higher calibre of player to move to Goodison Park, but signing top tier talent and keeping that talent without the promise of silverware are different matters entirely.
The Toffees face a similar issue in not having European football to offer to potential signings, though Carlo Ancelotti will be hoping his side can rectify that by securing qualification to continental competition this season.
All that is to say that Digne’s decision to sign a new and improved contract to remain an Everton player does the club’s profile the world of good.
According to stats gathered by WyScout, Digne has been one of the most lethal crossers of the ball in the Premier League this season, with only Trent Alexander-Arnold averaging more that the Frenchman [5.91] per 90 minutes.
Additionally, Digne is one of just four players to have crossed the ball more than 100 times so far this season, with no player providing more deliveries from the left.
Both defensively and offensively, Digne has proven to be a hugely influential player for Everton, and so getting someone of his calibre to sign a contract extension shows potential transfer targets that Goodison Park is the place to be.
In other Everton news, Southampton boss Ralph Hasenhuttl hands Everton a boost in revealing that Oriol Romeu and Takumi Minamino won’t feature on Monday.