Lucas Digne dropped from Everton squad for Crystal Palace game
Everton left-back Lucas Digne has not travelled with the rest of the squad for Sunday’s game with Crystal Palace, according to El Bobble.
The Toffees face the Eagles at Selhurst Park tomorrow (12 December), but they will have to do it without the Frenchman from the look of things.
The reliable Everton insider – followed on Twitter by The Times journalist Paul Joyce – posted the update on their account late on Saturday (11 December) night.
They said: “Lucas Digne has not travelled with the rest of the Everton squad for the trip to Crystal Palace on Sunday.”
Fall out continues?
Digne is not injured, and he took to his personal Instagram account earlier today to post a picture of himself in training confirming so.
The France international had a falling out with Rafa Benitez ahead of Monday’s (6 December) game against Arsenal, and he was excluded from the matchday squad as a result.
He took to social media the next day to deny reports of a rift between him and the Everton boss, but it appears the Spaniard is yet to change his mind.
The Toffees deployed Ben Godfrey at left-back against the Gunners, and given that he impressed in the hard-fought 2-1 win, he could retain his place for the game against the London team.
The Athletic claimed that the 28-year-old could look to cut the cord from Benitez and Everton at the earliest opportunity, with a January or summer exit mooted, and the initial signs do not look good.
Digne has not been banished from Finch Farm, but it appears he could be out of the first-team in the meantime after his clash with the Toffees boss.
Reporters will definitely be asking Benitez why Digne is not in his matchday squad if that is indeed the case, and it will be interesting to see the reply he gives.
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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