Digne arrives on Merseyside for Everton medical
Lucas Digne has arrived on Merseyside for his Everton medical ahead of finalising a £18million move from Barcelona.
The defender was spotted heading into Pall Mall Medical centre in Liverpool on Tuesday afternoon and even posed for a quick picture with an Everton fan.
Digne is expected to be announced as an Everton player sometime this week after agreeing personal terms with the club.
He was granted permission to leave Barcelona's pre-season tour of the US and fly to England for talks with Everton's officials, which are now understood to be concluded.
The 25-year-old will become the club's second major signing of the summer, after Richarlison's £44m.
New Blues manager Marco Silva wants to play with three centre backs next season and sees Digne as a fitting replacement for Leighton Baines.
Everton director Marcel Brands is also continuing negotiations with Barcelona over their sought-after defender Yerry Mina.
The Colombian is understood to want assurances over his role at the club before making a decision on his future, though has had his head turned by the mounting interest from Manchester United.
Jose Mourinho has identified Mina as an ideal alternative if United miss out on a deal to sign Leicester centre-half Harry Maguire.
While Sime Vrsaljko has been linked with a move to Inter, Atletico Madrid have already found his potential replacement in PSV Eindhoven's Santiago Arias.
Los Rojiblancos have reached a total agreement with the Colombian right-back and the player is already in Madrid, awaiting news on Vrsaljko's future.
Atleti are eager to keep the latter in their squad, despite the Croatian's attempt to achieve a move to Italy.
For the time being, all scenarios, regarding a potential departure, are open, including a loan move with or without purchase option or even a transfer.
With their back-up solution ready to put pen on paper, Atletico Madrid will agree on offloading Vrsaljko only in case they receive a financially satisfactory offer.
The Brazilian is late back to begin pre-season training but he is not understood to be in hot water with his club over his slow return
Real Madrid have not made a bid for Willian and it is a passport issue that has delayed the Brazilian's return to Chelsea, Goal understands.
Indeed, the Blues and Willian have been in constant communication over the delay, with the club happy that the player has conducted himself professionally over the absence that will see him miss the pre-season meeting with Arsenal.
The 29-year-old is due to arrive back in London on Wednesday and, while Liga giants Madrid are interested in signing the former Shakhtar Donetsk star, Goal understands that reports of an official bid that contributed to his delayed return are wide of the mark.
Manchester United are also reported to be keen on signing Willian, while Barcelona have seen previous attempts to purchase the Brazilian fall through.
Goal understands Barca made several offers for the winger but became frustrated over the Blues' £65 million ($85m) asking price before eventually deciding to turn their attentions to Malcom, whom they signed for an initial €41m ((£36.5m/$48m) .
Regardless of the rumours surrounding Willian's future, he is expected to return to training in the next couple of days, with the Blues facing Manchester City in the Community Shield on Sunday prior to their Premier League opener against Huddersfield Town on August 11.
N'Golo Kante, Olivier Giroud, Eden Hazard, Thibaut Courtois and Gary Cahill, meanwhile, all remain on holiday having been granted a three-week break following their respective World Cup commitments.
Ruben Loftus-Cheek is one to have returned early, however, with FIFPro having expressed their concern that players are not taking appropriate time to recover before the new season gets underway.
Goal understands that Loftus-Cheek was in no way pressured to return to the club by Chelsea, although FIFPro identified 15 players that would fall into the category of not having taken enough holiday.
"Players are coming under too much pressure, caught between the needs of their clubs and their own personal well-being," the union said in a statement.
The defender was spotted heading into Pall Mall Medical centre in Liverpool on Tuesday afternoon and even posed for a quick picture with an Everton fan.
Digne is expected to be announced as an Everton player sometime this week after agreeing personal terms with the club.
He was granted permission to leave Barcelona's pre-season tour of the US and fly to England for talks with Everton's officials, which are now understood to be concluded.
The 25-year-old will become the club's second major signing of the summer, after Richarlison's £44m.
New Blues manager Marco Silva wants to play with three centre backs next season and sees Digne as a fitting replacement for Leighton Baines.
Everton director Marcel Brands is also continuing negotiations with Barcelona over their sought-after defender Yerry Mina.
The Colombian is understood to want assurances over his role at the club before making a decision on his future, though has had his head turned by the mounting interest from Manchester United.
Jose Mourinho has identified Mina as an ideal alternative if United miss out on a deal to sign Leicester centre-half Harry Maguire.
While Sime Vrsaljko has been linked with a move to Inter, Atletico Madrid have already found his potential replacement in PSV Eindhoven's Santiago Arias.
Los Rojiblancos have reached a total agreement with the Colombian right-back and the player is already in Madrid, awaiting news on Vrsaljko's future.
Atleti are eager to keep the latter in their squad, despite the Croatian's attempt to achieve a move to Italy.
For the time being, all scenarios, regarding a potential departure, are open, including a loan move with or without purchase option or even a transfer.
With their back-up solution ready to put pen on paper, Atletico Madrid will agree on offloading Vrsaljko only in case they receive a financially satisfactory offer.
The Brazilian is late back to begin pre-season training but he is not understood to be in hot water with his club over his slow return
Real Madrid have not made a bid for Willian and it is a passport issue that has delayed the Brazilian's return to Chelsea, Goal understands.
Indeed, the Blues and Willian have been in constant communication over the delay, with the club happy that the player has conducted himself professionally over the absence that will see him miss the pre-season meeting with Arsenal.
The 29-year-old is due to arrive back in London on Wednesday and, while Liga giants Madrid are interested in signing the former Shakhtar Donetsk star, Goal understands that reports of an official bid that contributed to his delayed return are wide of the mark.
Manchester United are also reported to be keen on signing Willian, while Barcelona have seen previous attempts to purchase the Brazilian fall through.
Goal understands Barca made several offers for the winger but became frustrated over the Blues' £65 million ($85m) asking price before eventually deciding to turn their attentions to Malcom, whom they signed for an initial €41m ((£36.5m/$48m) .
Regardless of the rumours surrounding Willian's future, he is expected to return to training in the next couple of days, with the Blues facing Manchester City in the Community Shield on Sunday prior to their Premier League opener against Huddersfield Town on August 11.
N'Golo Kante, Olivier Giroud, Eden Hazard, Thibaut Courtois and Gary Cahill, meanwhile, all remain on holiday having been granted a three-week break following their respective World Cup commitments.
Ruben Loftus-Cheek is one to have returned early, however, with FIFPro having expressed their concern that players are not taking appropriate time to recover before the new season gets underway.
Goal understands that Loftus-Cheek was in no way pressured to return to the club by Chelsea, although FIFPro identified 15 players that would fall into the category of not having taken enough holiday.
"Players are coming under too much pressure, caught between the needs of their clubs and their own personal well-being," the union said in a statement.
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