OPINION
Everton must hold onto defender Lucas Digne no matter the cost despite interest from Tottenham Hotspur.
According to the Mirror, Mauricio Pochettino is keen on bringing the Frenchman to Spurs, and is prepared to use some of the money gained from reaching the Champions League final to do so.
The report also claims that Everton would want Spurs wing-back Danny Rose as part of the deal, should it come to fruition.
However, Everton should not look to sell Digne, who has arguably been one of the most stand-out performers for the Merseyside club this season.
The 25-year old has featured 37 times for Everton in his first season, scoring four and assisting five goals in the process, which is more than can be said for Rose with Spurs.
The England international has featured 37 times also for his side, and has registered five assists, but zero goals in comparison.
Although the potential deal could include a fee from Spurs and Rose in a deal for the Frenchman, Everton should aim to hold onto Digne as best as possible, as he offers something going forward from defence that Rose does not.
Also, the 25-year old’s ability to take a set-piece must be taken into account, and after scoring some important goals from dead balls this season, this is not something that the club can afford to lose going into the new Premier League season.
The report from the Mirror claim that the Everton defender’s value will have more than doubled since his arrival at Goodison Park, however the Toffees should definitely be looking to keep Digne for themselves, and snub any interest, especially from a Premier League rival.
As after all he has proven to be too important to Marco Silva’s side and it would be hard to adequately replace, especially if Rose is considered an option.