A key transfer claim has been made on Everton defender Lucas Digne regarding where he could potentially move this month...
What's the talk?
Reporter Pete O'Rourke has backed West Ham to consider a deal to sign the Toffees full-back during the January transfer window.
When asked about the Hammers potentially signing Digne, he told GIVEMESPORT: "I'm sure they'll be looking at him if they are looking for a left-back."
Frustration for Everton fans
This claim from O'Rourke will surely leave Everton fans feeling frustrated as it illustrates the difficult situation in which the club find themselves in right now.
Supporters surely want to see the Toffees challenging at the top end of the table and attempting to qualify for the Europa League, or possibly even the Champions League. However, they are being forced to watch the likes of West Ham and Leicester battling with the traditional top six whilst their side lie 15th in the Premier League table as it stands, losing five of their last seven games.
This means that players may be more attracted to joining a club like the Foxes or the Hammers, as they appear to be ahead of Everton in their progress to become established in the top half of the table. In turn, this opens the door for a player like Digne to potentially be interested in making the switch to the London Stadium, whereas this may not be the case if the clubs switched positions in the table.
Of course, this is not helped by the tension growing between Digne and Benitez. The pair have reportedly had a falling out behind the scenes and this has led to the player being dropped from the side ever since, which could now lead to a move away from the club this month.
The fans will be frustrated by this update in particular as it suggests that West Ham could be a viable location for him, rather than an elite club from another country or a traditional top-six Premier League team. Supporters will be fuming that he could be sold to a club who could have been considered a rival in terms of their respective ambitions going into the campaign, only for the reality to pan out rather differently.
AND in other news, Everton offered chance to sign "phenomenal" £16.2m-rated gem this month, fans would fume...