Everton could look to replace AS Monaco loanee Djibril Sidibe with Olympique de Marseille defender Bouna Sarr this summer, following reports by Le10 Sport that the Ligue 1 outfit could offer players out in the next transfer window.
It is suggested OM ‘absolutely’ must sell several first-team players in the upcoming market to avoid UEFA sanctions for breaching Financial Fair Play regulations, and will turn to advisors Andoni Zubizarreta and Paul Aldridge to ‘financially restore’ the Stade Velodrome outfit.
Aldridge has several connections with sides in England, and it is proposed that he could approach both Manchester City and United to discuss a deal for Duje Caleta-Car, and could contact Marcel Brands to discuss Everton’s interest in Sarr.
The Toffees are believed to be considering a swoop for Sarr at the end of the season, with prior claims by the Mirror (March 29, page 77) suggesting Brands will look to offer less than £8million for the 28-year-old Marseille value at £10m.
News of Marseille potentially offering Sarr to us would help Brands drive a better bargain, but completing any move would raise serious question marks over Sidibe being kept beyond his one-year loan from Monaco.
Everton hold a €14m (£12.2m) option to buy Sidibe having agreed upon a clause with the Principality natives at the time of signing the 2018 World Cup winner, though there has not yet been a decision made to go through with the purchase.
Sidibe has featured in 21 of our Premier League fixtures this season, including all 11 of Carlo Ancelotti’s at the helm, but the lingering doubt over his long-term future will continue to fuel speculation of moves for other targets.
Sarr would be a puzzling option given his age and Brands’ intentions to lower the age of the first-team, but as a direct comparison to Sidibe, the Marseille man has started 25 of his 27 Ligue 1 outings this term.
Across the current French top-flight campaign, Dimitri Payet is the only OM player to have recorded more successful dribbles (50, 61%) than Sarr (49, 57%), per Sofa Score, while the defender has also created three big chances to score, played 229 accurate passes in the final third, delivered 14 accurate crosses (14%), won 152 (57%) ground duels, committed 23 fouls and lost possession 395 times.
Who would you favour as our starting RB next season?
Sarr
Sidibe
Coleman
Kenny
Sidibe, meanwhile, has registered 13 successful dribbles (54%) in the Premier League, created four big chances to score, played 180 accurate passes in the final third, delivered 17 accurate crosses (27%), won 39 ground duels (44%), committed nine fouls and lost possession 187 times.
Which of the pair Ancelotti favours remains to be seen, while a decision must also be made on Jonjoe Kenny’s future following reports in Germany he wishes to remain with loan side FC Schalke 04.
In other Everton news, Marcel Brands has landed a huge boost in the club’s plans to sign a €30m hitman after the 44-cap ace handed in a transfer request.