AS Monaco manager Niko Kovac refused to rule out the potential departure of Djibril Sidibe from the club this winter, after a late transfer bid by Aston Villa fell just short with a few hours to go. It's believed that the Villans will return for the France international when the transfer window re-opens in January.
Sidibe spent the previous season on loan with Everton in the Premier League and he shared the right-back duties alongside Seamus Coleman over the course of the campaign.
The Toffees had the option to buy him for around 12 million pounds, but they decided against meeting the price tag. Aston Villa saw the opportunity, and bid around £9 million for the talented youngster, but it was refused at the last minute because Monaco couldn't find anyone to replace him in time - though at one point the bookies listed at igamingsearch.com had him at just 1/5 to be wearing the claret and blue.
Hence, Sidibe has continued to train with Monaco and Kovac has remained non-committal over the defender’s future, he told: “Djibril Sidibé is back with us, he trained with the group. He is a good player who has shown his qualities on loan in the Premier League. He's a French international and I'm counting on him, he's a great player.
“We haven't talked about his situation. I will give him a chance like all the other players to be able to play according to his performance. Everything is possible. He finished the Premier League three weeks ago, he's in good condition so we'll see if he can play on Sunday. He can play on the right and left and his mentality is good, I like him, we'll see.”
Sidibe could get a chance to revive his Monaco career under new boss Kovac, but there are reports claiming that he could also be a subject of interest from Bayer Leverkusen.
Leverkusen sold Kai Havertz to Chelsea for an initial fee of 72 million pounds and they are set to use the sum received to bolster the squad, though they are keen not to make too many additions all at once - they have already agreed a deal to land Patrik Schick from AS Roma and could go on a spending spree in the winter transfer window, depending on their league position and ambitions at the time.
The Bundesliga outfit are thought to be open to payng a fee of around £11 million pounds for the full-back and Monaco could accept the fee, given they ultimately need funds to enhance their prospects of bringing in fresh faces into the squad. Hopefully Aston Villa will jump in there first!