Club have ‘started approach’ to sign Aston Villa player – Make contact, want deal using specific formula

Aston Villa’s Lucas Digne is yet to return to the pitch after suffering an injury in his side’s league defeat to Manchester United on Boxing Day.

The left-back’s current situation hasn’t stopped Al-Hilal from identifying him as a target for the winter market.

That’s according to L’Equipe, who state the Saudi Arabian club are looking for a left-back, and have the Aston Villa player and Bayern Munich’s Raphaël Guerreiro in their sights.

It’s said Al-Hilal have ‘started an approach’ to try to bring the 30-year-old to the Middle East in the ongoing window. They have ‘made contact’ but the report doesn’t specify if that’s with Unai Emery’s side, the Frenchman’s camp or both.

L’Equipe add Jorge Jesus’ side have also made an approach for Guerreiro, who joined the Bundesliga winners as a free agent last summer.

Al-Hilal, who invested big last summer, are aiming to sign the former Everton man on a loan deal with an option to buy.

Digne has managed a goal and five assists from 26 games this season and Emery has used Álex Moreno in his absence.