Everton have been quite busy in the transfer market and it seems that they are not done with their signings for the 2019-20 summer transfer window. The Toffees are reportedly closing in on the signature of AS Monaco right-back Djibril Sidibé, who was a key player in Monaco’s Ligue 1 win a few years ago, and was also a part of the France squad for the 2018 World Cup.
L’Equipe’s Bertrand Latour has reported that the Toffees could make a move for the right-back, while Daily Mail are reporting that the Frenchman could move to Goodison Park on loan from Monaco. Sidibe joined Monaco in 2016 from Lille and has gone on to make 113 appearances for the club in all competitions.
Sidibe has also made 18 appearances for the French national team since debuting in 2016. Everton have already made a few signings (h/t Transfermarkt), including that of Moise Kean, Jean-Philippe Gbamin, and Fabian Delph while making the signing of Andre Gomes a permanent one.
Is he first XI quality?
Everton manager Marco Silva has the experienced Seamus Coleman at his disposal with the club agreeing to send the young right-back Jonjoe Kenny on loan to Schalke ahead of the 2019-20 season. Sidibe is a steady defender who is good defensively and can contribute in attack as well. The right-back is a good crosser and passer of the ball and moves forward to join the attack and put in crosses at every opportunity.
Seamus Coleman, who has been Everton’s first-choice right-back for nearly a decade has been consistently good, although a few injuries put him on the sidelines for a while. Sidibe is certainly a good signing for Everton but it remains to be seen if he can cope with the high-intensity and physical nature football of the Premier League, while he also had a bad season in Ligue 1 last time around.
But with Kenny having been sent out on loan, Everton do not have a backup right-back at the club (Cuco Martina has returned (h/t Liverpool Echo) to Everton after his loan spell, but Silva may not keep him at the club) and Sidibe could be a good option, although he may have to settle for a spot on the bench rather than the starting XI.