Crystal Palace linked with €15m-rated marauding Ligue 1 fullback: Smart choice by Hodgson

Crystal Palace are eyeing a move for AS Monaco defender Djibril Sidibe who is tied to the Ligue 1 club until 2022.

According to a report from the France Football, ASM have slapped a price tag of €15m on the soon to be 27-year-old fullback who has attracted major interest from both England and Spain.

Palace and Valencia are interested in attaining the services of the French international who was a target for Manchester United and Atletico Madrid last summer after lifting the FIFA World Cup in Russia, the report adds.

The former Lille man made 32 appearances for the club across all competitions in a nightmare season for the French side where they escaped relegation by a mere 2 points.

What will he add to the team?

Sidibe is a versatile player who primarily features as a right-back and possesses the ability to switch flanks or move to the right side of the midfield in case the manager requires him.

The Frenchman is a rock-solid figure in the backline and likes to maraud up and down the wing, contributing heavily in the attacking areas on the pitch.

Even though his passing skills will take some work on the training ground, the 26-year-old ticks all the boxes of a modern-day fullback.

He averaged a pass success rate of 75.1%, 1.2 key passes, 0.8 crosses and 1.2 long balls per game alongside the 4 assists to his name across all competitions last term.

Other than his crossing prowess, the Monaco man is ambidextrous, technically astute and comfortable with the ball at his feet.

He boasts the ability to move past opposition players and dribble his way out of tight areas on the pitch, not to mention his long-shot ability posing a direct threat to the opposition goal.

The right-footed defender managed 0.3 dribbles, 0.7 shots and was fouled 1.1 times per 90 minutes which projects his confidence in the final third and ability to earn set-pieces using his style of play.

Sidibe, who stands at 6ft, boasts superb aerial ability to impact the game in the air along with his excellent work-rate which reflects in his defensive contributions on the pitch.

He averaged 1.9 tackles, 1.2 interceptions, 1.8 clearances and 1.3 aerial duels won per game which is a hallmark of an authoritative presence in defence.

However, the fullback, who has spent the entirety of his career in the French divisions, could face challenges adjusting to the dynamic nature and pace of the Premier League even though he seems to have most of the attributes which are only going to help him adjust to life in case the move materialises.

Stat Courtesy: Transfermarkt, Whoscored