Name: Lucas Digne
Club: PSG
Nationality: French
Position: Left-back
Who is he?
Born just North-East of Paris, Digne first joined the academy of LOSC Lille aged 12 in 2005. The left-back progressed through the ranks, signing his first professional contract in 2010.
But he did not make his debut until the 2011/12 season. After appearing in the matchday squad five times, he finally took the field as an 88th minute substitute against Saint Etienne on January 28th.
Soon he was a regular for a club that had spent the first half of the season in the Champions League. By the end of that debut season, he had made 16 appearances, 15 of them being starts.
He kicked on in his second season at Lille, making 33 league appearances and also started regularly in the Champions League group stages.
Achievements
The 20-year-old youngster’s good form saw him courted by Parisian giants PSG whose flirtation came to fruition when he signed a €15 million deal with the French champions.
But that move may have come too soon for Digne who has barely played at all this season. His only action at club level has been two starts in September. Otherwise he has been on the bench behind experienced Brazilian Maxwell has been entrusted with the shirt at left-back.
At international level, he has over 50 caps at youth level, stretching from the U16s to the U21s.
He was also a starter for the France team that won the U20 FIFA World Cup this summer.
Attributes
An attacking left-back, Digne is also capable of playing as a left-sided midfielder. Last season he provided six assists for Lille and in the U20 World Cup he added two more.
He likes to bomb forward and provided an option in attacking areas down the left. But his crossing is erratic. Last season he only had nine accurate crosses from just under 100 attempts.
Potential
Digne may well get his chance at PSG in the long-term as Maxwell is in his 30s. But for now, he will have to bide his time. Perhaps if he is getting splinters in his backside from prolonged spells on the bench, he should look at a loan move.
But he is a talent that has been scouted by the likes of Manchester United, City and Liverpool and one many would tip to become a France international down the line. He is just starting a five year contract so he may be seen as one who PSG which to develop themselves.
