Chelsea are considering a loan move for Everton's Lucas Digne during the January transfer window, The Telegraph's Matt Law reports.

The reigning European champions are assessing potential cover options with Ben Chilwell potentially out for the rest of the season.

Digne has fallen out of favour at Everton after a row with manager Rafael Benitez in front of his team-mates.

He hasn't played a minute of football for The Toffees since 1 December, though he was named amongst the substitutes for Sunday's game against Brighton.

Everton have already signed a likely replacement for the Frenchman in the form of 22-year-old Vitaliy Mykolenko.

Why might Everton fans be opposed to a straight loan?

According to Transfermarkt, Digne is the third most valuable player in the squad, behind only Dominic Calvert-Lewin and Richarlison.

Everton fans, then, may prefer their club to cash in and reinvest if he's not part going to be part of Rafael Benitez's plans going forward.

Supporters were furious when it emerged last week the club had placed a £25m price tag on the defender - below his Transfermarkt value - and they certainly aren't any happier with the added news that a loan is now on the agenda.

Fan feed The Toffee Blues relayed Law's report, and here's what the Goodison faithful had to say.

These Everton fans fume over Digne proposal

"Cant see us doing a standard loan. If we do we might as well give up...!"

Credit: @kieranbuckley5

"Why on earth would Everton do this?"

Credit: @efac1878

"Surely we need to offload him completely. A loan isn’t what we need."

Credit: @mightmj1

"Only Everton would loan one of their best players out to a superior club."

Credit: @WAJG_96

"Dumbest piece of business going this. Go out of our way to sign a new left back so Chelsea can loan our original left back. It makes absolutely no sense whatsoever, so being Everton, it's probably going to happen."

Credit: @Everblue86

"We only want to sell him, not loan him"

Credit: @AndyVale27

In other news, Everton are interested in this winger.