Why West Ham should go all out to sign Djibril Sidibe this summer
According to 90min (h/t Burnley Express), West Ham are frontrunners for the signature of Djibril Sidibe. Newcastle and Wolves are the other interested parties.
Profile
Djibril Sidibe is a 28-year-old French right-back who plays for AS Monaco. He started his youth career at Troyes in 2000 and climbed through the youth teams before making his debut in 2009. After 43 appearances for the senior side, he departed for Lille ahead of the 2012-13 season.
It was at Lille that Sidibe started getting more game time and made himself a valuable member of the squad. He played 119 games for them, scoring 11 and assisting 7 in the process. Monaco came calling in 2016 and he made the switch.
In three seasons for Monaco, Sidibe played 116 times, scored 6 goals and assisted 21 (source – Transfermarkt). He was a part of the famed Monaco side of 2017 that won the Ligue 1 and reached the semi-finals of the Champions League.
Playing last season for Everton on loan, he made 28 appearances and assisted 5 goals. Sidibe has been a sporadic player for the national team with 18 appearances to date. But he was a part of the side that won the FIFA World Cup in 2018.
Would it be a wise move?
West Ham currently have two proper right-backs on their books, Ben Johnson and Ryan Fredericks. With Ben Johnson still away with injury, Fredericks has been Moyes’ only option.
Sidibe is an extremely good right-back with his attacking as well as defensive contributions. He is very experienced in top-flight football and even spent the previous season in English football.
He looks like a much better option to have alongside Johnson and Fredericks. Johnson is still just 20 years of age and can’t be expected to line up for every game of the season. Sidibe should have no problem adjusting to the league given his Everton stint last season.
Read more
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Verdict
A very safe option, Djibril Sidibe offers experience and all-round contributions. He looks much better than Fredericks and would add quality as well as quantity to the side.
Sidibe is also very versatile due to his ability to play as a left-back or as a right-midfielder. He is an attack-minded full-back, something which is a huge necessity in modern football. West Ham should go for him.
