Everton new boy has eyes on French recall

LUCAS DIGNE insists he is not afraid of the Premier League as he bids to rebuild his career at Everton.

The left-back has signed a five-year contract at Goodison Park after completing his £19m switch from Barcelona – and has a point to prove to France boss Didier Deschamps.

Digne made just eight La Liga starts last season, with Jordi Alba ahead of him in the pecking order, and missed out on a place in France’s World Cup-winning squad after Deschamps put him on standby.

Excited

That was a blow to a player who played for his country at the 2014 tournament in Brazil and was part of their 23-man squad for Euro 2016.

Digne made his name and broke into the France squad after joining Paris St-Germain from Lille in 2013.

He looked set for big things after sealing a loan move to Roma for a year in 2015.

But his time at Barcelona failed to work out – and he jumped at the chance to become new Everton boss Marco Silva’s second signing, following the arrival of Brazilian winger Richarlison for £40m last week.

Digne, 25, said: “I want to show my best football here and discover the best league in the world. Everybody loves the Premier League. I am not afraid, I am excited. For me, it is a new challenge to discover a country, a league, people and a great club such as Everton. It is fabulous.”

He added that he wanted to move to Everton as soon as he spoke to Silva.

“My first impression on meeting the new manager was really good,” he said.

Silva and his director of football Marcel Brands are still looking to boost their squad before next week’s transfer deadline.

Everton have approached Villarreal to ask if they are ready to do a deal for former

Real Madrid midfielder Denis Cheryshev, 27.

The youngster scored four times for Russia as they reached the quarter-finals at their home World Cup last month before losing to Croatia on penalties.

Meanwhile, former Everton midfielder Jack Rodwell is back training with the club’s Under-23 squad to build up his fitness.

Rodwell, 27, is without a club after agreeing to cancel his contract with Sunderland in June, and failing to earn a deal with Watford, having joined their pre-season training camp in Austria.

Everton are not planning to offer the midfielder a deal.