Everton have secured their first January transfer target in Vitaliy Mykolenko this weekend, and the news has only further added fuel to the fire that Lucas Digne's feud with Rafael Benitez may well be irreparable.

What's the word?

The French defender has fallen out of favour ever since he had a rumoured conflict with his manager in a training session last month. The £27m-rated left-back has not been seen in the team since the heavy defeat to Liverpool at Goodison Park at the start of December.

Despite mounting speculation of a move for the player, it was thought that the door would be left ajar, with strong links of a loan switch to Chelsea until the end of the season, but fresh reports suggest that Everton are now putting out a price to sell him instead.

According to ESPN, Everton would prefer a straight deal 'given a deterioration in the relationship between Digne and boss Rafa Benitez' instead of a loan deal which would see the left-back return to the club in the summer.

The report has further suggested that the club want to sell the player for £25m so that the manager can raise funds for more transfer targets, and that they are not interested in loaning out Digne.

Fans will be furious

Fans will be furious at Benitez about the apparent decision to get rid of Digne completely when there are clear options for the Everton ace to remain with the club.

The Spaniard already has a fragile relationship with many Toffees fans, as evidenced at some recent matches, and news of the popular French left-back's potential departure may serve only to drive a further wedge between Benitez and the fan base.

It should also be noted that Digne has added plenty to the Everton cause, posting the second-highest tackling average so far this season (2.5 per game) and chipping in with seven assists in each of the last two full Premier League campaigns.

The Toffees host Brighton at Goodison Park today in their first game for 17 days, and with the out-of-favour defender seen in training for the first time this week, it will be interesting to see if he will be selected in the matchday squad.

If not, it would indicate that he has fallen irrevocably out of Benitez's plans, with the manager poised to make the huge mistake of cutting Digne loose rather than merely loaning him out to see if the passage of time will quell the apparent feud between the pair.

In other news: One Everton star's return could be imminent