Rafa Benitez might want Everton to sign new left-back in January – Liv Echo journo
Rafa Benitez may want Everton to sign a new left-back in the January transfer window after Lucas Digne was dropped on Monday against Arsenal, according to David Prentice of Liverpool Echo.
Speaking to the latest edition of the Royal Blue podcast, Prentice has been taken back by how Digne is being sidelined by Benitez. He suggests the Spaniard doesn’t fancy him at all.
The 28-year-old, who has been one of the stand-out performers in recent years, is probably now fighting for his future at the club.
“I know he’s always going to have the power over the starting line-up and the team selection but he’ll want to influence what happens in terms of incomings as well and by alienating the only left-back on the books, that indicates that he could be looking for somebody else in January because he’s clearly not having him as a footballer, which also surprises me,” said the Liv Echo journo.
Two sides of the coin
The way it has been documented it seems Benitez has some agenda against the player, and that he is trying to force him out of the club.
There are some suggestions that the Spaniard is power-hungry, and people who are protesting against his methods are gradually being sidelined.
Every manager has his own style of doing things. In most cases, it’s the players who adapt to the changing system, not the other way round.
Benitez doesn’t like adventurous full-backs. Rather he is more comfortable having players who would be solid in defending first.
For the past 18 months or so, before Benitez’s arrival, Digne’s form has dipped. He brings different qualities, but Rafa probably wants something else from him.
Digne won’t have any shortage of suitors if he wants to leave Goodison Park. He is yet to register an assist or a goal in 13 league games so far this season.
In other Everton news, the Toffees are plotting January loan-to-buy bid for centre-mid hailed by Jack Grealish last month.
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