Some Everton fans have been raving over Djibril Sidibe’s festive form, after the AS Monaco loanee added his third assist of the month against Burnley on Boxing Day.
Sidibe joined the club on a one-season deal this summer, with Director of Football Marcel Brands agreeing to pay an upfront instalment of €2.5million (£2.1m) to secure the 2018 World Cup winner’s services.
As part of the deal struck with Les Monegasques, we also took possession of a €14m (£11.9m) option-to-buy, which will become active at the end of the campaign.
Brands’ handy work in the summer has begun to pay dividends, as Sidibe had to wait until the reverse fixture at Burnley on October 5 to make his Premier League debut and the visit of West Ham United to Goodison Park after the international break to make his first start in the English top-flight.
Sidibe’s name has been one former boss Marco Silva, caretaker head coach Duncan Ferguson and new manager Carlo Ancelotti have each struggled to leave out since the 18-cap right-back helped us to beat West Ham.
The 27-year-old has started ten of our last 11 Premier League games, and only sat out the 1-1 draw at Manchester United earlier this month through illness.
Who is our signing of the season so far?
Sidibe
Delph
Gomes
Iwobi
Sidibe’s creativity on the right-hand side of the field has made him a key aspect of the first-team, and creating Dominic Calvert-Lewin’s winning goal against Burnley on Boxing Day was the Frenchman’s fourth assist in his last seven appearances.
Since making his Premier League debut, Sidibe has created a total of four big chances and is averaging 0.9 key passes per game, according to Sofa Score statistics.
He is also averaging 15 passes in the opposition half, 1.9 long balls, 1.0 accurate crosses, 3.9 tackles and 2.0 interceptions per game in the top-flight, and is yet to commit an error which has led to a shot, let alone a goal.
Here are some of the messages shared as fans reacted to Sidibe’s form…
Djibril ‘the Mailman’ Sidibe! His crosses are deadly! Sign him.up!
— Salem (@Salemail2010) December 26, 2019
Brilliant from brands getting the purchase option. Hope he wants to stay!
— NTXblue1878 (@NTXblue1878) December 26, 2019
Sign him up.
— Joe (@JoeEFC_1878) December 26, 2019
Keepeth him
— ✡️Lotte✡️ (@quadraspazzed) December 26, 2019
Sign him up permanently!
— Ste…Toffees!!! (@Everton1878Ste) December 26, 2019
hope he wants to stay 😬
— Trevor P. Malco’ (@trevor_p_malco) December 26, 2019
Ok yeah, that’s it. That’s the tweet
— Adam (@adxmEFC) December 26, 2019
Hope is not a trap
— Boateng Henry (@BoatengHenry9) December 27, 2019
In other Everton news, the club have made inquiries into signing a €30m striker in January.