Atletico Madrid is reportedly considering Aston Villa player Lucas Digne as an alternative to Andy Robertson, if the Scotland captain ends up staying at Liverpool.
Robertson, who struggled to consistently produce his best form this season, has emerged as a surprise target for Atletico amid the Reds' pursuit of Bournemouth left-back Milos Kerkez.
Robertson will turn 32 next season and Liverpool has made signing a long-term successor to the former Hull star a priority during this summer's transfer window.
On Monday, Bournemouth confirmed the arrival of Belgian left-back Adrien Truffert from Rennes, as he became the Cherries' second left-back signing of the year following the January arrival of Julio Soler.
Bournemouth's acquisition of Truffert paves the way for Kerkez to move to Anfield, and in a podcast appearance on Monday night, Kerkez's dad said that the move to Liverpool was effectively done.
"It's only Liverpool for us and we're not going anywhere else and we won't talk to other clubs. Everything is done between us [personal terms] we just need to sort out some details but it's basically a done deal," Kerkez's dad said.
"[Liverpool sporting director] Richard Hughes brought us to Bournemouth, if he said we go to India, then we go to India, everything is agreed, just some little things."
It was expected that Kostas Tsimikas would leave Liverpool due to Kerkez's arrival, in order to keep the number of left-backs in Arne Slot's squad down to two, but it could end up being Robertson who makes way.
However, if Robertson ends up staying on Merseyside, Atletico could turn to a former Everton defender to assume the left-back role in Simeone's team, according to The Times.
Digne, like Robertson, is 31 years old and has one year remaining on his contract with his current club, so will likely be available for a cut-price fee.
Lucas Digne pursues Ryan Gravenberch during a match between Liverpool and Villa this season
Lucas Digne pursues Ryan Gravenberch during a match between Liverpool and Villa this season (Image: Getty Images)
Digne previously faced the wrath of former Liverpool manager Rafael Benitez when Benitez was the Everton manager for a short period between 2021 and 2022.
Digne left Everton for Villa in the 2022 January transfer window after Benitez suggested the player was putting his own interests above the interests of the team.
“We are professionals,” Benitez said shortly before Digne joined Villa. “They pay you big money to perform. You have to perform, you have to be available, you have to put your interests behind the interests of the club. Maybe the stats and priorities have changed and people think themselves ahead of other things.
“The team finished 10th last season and someone who is worried about their stats changes nothing for me. I don’t want to finish 10th. I’d like to be in a much better position; I am not stupid – I want to finish as high as possible. The club is growing and improving and we are creating a winning mentality for the future but it will take some time.
“In the meantime you need players who really want to be here. We have to consider what we want to do in our future. Do we want to try and improve or just manage the egos and leave the team behind depending on the egos?”