According to a recent report by L’Equipe, Everton are hoping to seal a loan move for AS Monaco right-back Djibril Sidibé before the English transfer window slams shut later this week. The same source has also claimed that the loan offer would include an option to buy the player permanently next summer.
The Daily Star has revealed that the Merseyside outfit will pay an initial £2.3m loan fee with a further £12.9m to make the move permanent at the end of the 2019-20 campaign.
The Recent Emergence Of Djibril Sidibe In The French Top-Flight
The 27-year-old came through ES Troyes AC’s youth system before he was allowed to feature for the Troyes senior side back in 2011. LOSC Lille went on to acquire his service in the summer of 2012. The French talent appeared in a total of 119 matches for Lille, registering 11 goals while creating seven assists on all fronts.
Then AS Monaco managed to convince Sidibe to ply his trade at the Stade Louis II in the summer transfer period of 2016. The Ligue 1 prospect has featured in 114 matches for the French side, finding the back of the net six times while providing 21 assists in all competitions.
Sidibe was also solid defensively inside his own half after he made an average of 1.9 tackles, 1.2 interceptions and 1.8 clearances per game in the top tier of France last season (stats via whoscored).
What Will The French Defender Bring To Goodison Park?
Sidibe is moderately paced and can make some penetrative runs down the right-wing. The French defender is versatile enough to play in both full-back positions or operate in an advanced role down the right midfield. He is also able to retain possession effectively for his team and is a reliable defender at the back. The Monaco defensive ace is also not afraid to put in a tireless shift for his side and can win a lot of 50-50 aerial duels due to his incredible strength and leaping ability.
The addition of a proven right-back like Sidibe will undeniably add more competition for Seamus Coleman at Goodison Park. He will not only bolster Marco Silva’s defensive options at the Merseyside club but will also add some much-needed depth to the Toffees squad. However, the jury is still out on whether Sidibe will be able to handle the physical toll of Premier League football.
