'What a privilege' - Aston Villa supporters panic at Lucas Digne comment amid transfer links
Latest Aston Villa transfer news with Lucas Digne sparking concern among supporters he will be leaving the club in January
Lucas Digne has sent some Aston Villa fans into a panic following a social media post amid exit links from the Midlands club. The France international moved to Villa Park from Everton in the 2022 January transfer window with 73 appearances thus far made in that spell.
The defender had nailed down the left-back spot in the team until Alex Moreno arrived just a few months after Unai Emery took over from Steven Gerrard. As Digne was dealing with injury issues, Moreno was given a number of opportunities last season which he duly took with six assists coming in the second half of the 2022/23 season.
However, injury then struck the 30-year-old with Digne benefitting from his extended absence due to a hamstring issue. But once again, right as Moreno was returning, Digne was dealt a fresh injury during the 3-2 defeat to Manchester United at Old Trafford.
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Since then, Moreno has been back in the starting XI with Digne nursing a shoulder injury. While that absence is temporary, a permanent exit could arrive shortly with firm January interest in the former Paris Saint-Germain man. According to L’Equipe, Al-Hilal want to sign a left back during the January transfer window and have identified Digne as a target.
In the wake of that, Digne posted to Instagram to celebrate the two-year anniversary since his transfer to Villa. With a picture of him in action, he wrote as a caption: "What a privilege it is to be here for the last 2 years thank you for all your support and see you soon."
While just appearing to be an innocuous post celebrating his time at the club, some fans have seemingly read deeply into the part of the message that states, "what a privilege'. Considering the winter exit links, a possible goodbye message is what has been interpreted with @j_Coleman19 commenting: "Would be gutted to see you leave!"
@ir04.22 added: "DONT YOU DARE LEAVE US. WE LOVE YOU TOO MUCH." With @CraigMacredie summing up the thoughts of numerous Villa supporters. "Omg I just had a heart stopping moment thinking it was a leaving post," he wrote.
Digne leaving is certainly a plausible outcome in the upcoming windows, although Emery will likely want to keep him for the time being considering his impressive form in the absence of Moreno over the last few months.