According to a recent report by The Daily Express, Everton and Newcastle United are leading the chase to secure the signature of Toulouse midfielder Ibrahim Sangare this summer. The same source has also revealed that the Ivorian youngster was set to consider his future at the end of this campaign but looks sure to depart the French club now after they were relegated from the Ligue 1. It is believed that Brighton and Hove Albion along with two other unnamed Premier League clubs are also keeping tabs on Sangare’s situation at Toulouse (via The Daily Express).
Sangare’s Impressive Season At The Stadium de Toulouse
Despite his team’s struggles, the 22-year-old has caught the eye for his battling performances at the heart of Denis Zanko’s midfield. He has made 26 appearances for the French outfit this term and has got just one assist to show for his efforts across all competitions. Sangare has managed to get into some promising attacking positions but has struggled to be productive in the final third.
To his credit, the Ivory Coast international has caught the eye after averaging 3.4 tackles, 1.6 interceptions, 1.9 clearances, 0.9 shots, 1.1 key passes and 1.2 dribbles in every 90 minutes of league football this season which highlights his growing influence on both ends of the field (stats via whoscored).
Sangare has also earned three senior caps for the Ivory Coast national team but is still waiting to net his first goal for his country. If he can show some signs of improvement in the upcoming campaign, then he will be guaranteed a place in his nation’s squad for next year’s African Cup of Nations.
What Will The Toulouse Midfield Enforcer Add To Ancelotti’s Side?
Sangare is a moderately-paced midfielder who can use his strength to outmuscle the opposition and make some powerful runs with the ball at the centre of the park. He is also a tidy ball-distributor as evidenced by his pass completion rate of 78.7% in the Ligue 1 this season (stats via whoscored).
However, what makes him such a unique two-way midfielder is his ability to track the danger quickly and pull off some vital interceptions for his side. The Ivorian is also not afraid to clear his lines when his teammates are left exposed at the back. He is also willing to commit to the cause by putting his body on the line when attempting to stop a goal-bound shot from the opposition.
Sangare will not only add some much-needed bite and steel to Carlo Ancelotti’s midfield but also enhance the overall depth of his squad at Goodison Park. His energy, power and defensive prowess make him a necessary option for the Toffees to consider ahead of the new season. The Ligue 1 midfield ace will also provide some healthy competition for the likes of Tom Davies, Morgan Schneiderlin, Andre Gomes, Fabian Delph and Jean-Philippe Gbamin in the race to secure a regular starting berth at Merseyside.
The presence of Gbamin could help him settle in quickly as he is Sangare’s international colleague. He also played in France before going on to join the Bundesliga and then, the Premier League last summer. At 22, Sangare has his best seasons ahead of him which Everton could look to benefit from in the years to come if they end up winning the chase to land him this summer.
