Lucas Digne and Everton are happy with the progress of new contract talks.

The Liverpool Echo says Digne is currently working his way back to fitness following surgery on his ankle but is making such rapid progress that Carlo Ancelotti expects him back at some point this month and ahead of schedule.

Discussions over a new deal for the Blues' left-back were opened recently and negotiations are going well and Digne is now expected to put pen to paper on a new deal that will reflect his growing importance to the club.

Digne's existing contract runs until the summer of 2023 and the France international could be handed a new long-term deal, similar to the new five-year deal Micheal Keane was given in August.

Allan, Abdoulaye Doucoure, Tom Davies and Yerry Mina are the other players in the Everton squad whose deals finish in the summer of 2023.