Aston Villa have been keen on splashing the cash in recent years, allowing Dean Smith and now Steven Gerrard to stamp their mark on the side in an attempt to push for European football.

Whilst it is still early days in the latter’s managerial career, it seems like he has already dropped the ball when he swooped for wantaway full-back Lucas Digne.

Signing him from Everton, a club in disarray at the time, it seemed like they had pulled off a massive coup on one of the league’s most creative defenders.

During the 2018/19 season, he created more chances (71) than any other defender in the Premier League.

It, therefore, makes his start to life at Villa Park all the more underwhelming, as his six-month stint last season disappointed almost as much as his start to this campaign.

Purchased for £25m too and handed astronomical wages of £163k-per-week for a 29-year-old, it was a risk Gerrard was clearly willing to take to acquire a forward-thinking left-back to further implement his system.

All in all, given his £8.5m per year salary, after this season he will have cost NSWE a total of £36.75m

During his eight-month (35 week) period at the club so far, he has just one goal and four assists in 24 games.

Compared with his last full season with the Toffees, during the 2020/21 season, he assisted seven times in 30 games, a far better return.

His average SofaScore rating of 6.81 this season is also indicative of an underperforming player, who offers little defensively if he is not going forward.

With zero assists this season in their opening seven league fixtures, the Frenchman is dribbled past 0.9 times per game whilst only winning possession 0.6 times.

His defensive deficiencies could be overlooked at Goodison Park due to his fantastic offensive output, but with that having dried up for Aston Villa, they are left with a shell of the player they intended to buy.

There is still time for him to come good for Gerrard, but his side's faltering start to the season means it might be harder than just flipping a switch. It will take hard work and some tough words, which is similar to what Rafa Benitez used to drive him out of Merseyside.