Sunderland target Djibril Sidibe '˜overwhelmed' by speculation

French full-back Djibril Sidibe admits there has been contact from several clubs vying for his signature, amidst rumoured interest from Sunderland.
Sunderland's manager Sam AllardyceSunderland's manager Sam Allardyce
Sunderland's manager Sam Allardyce

Sidibe is currently with the France squad on the eve of Euro 2016, with the uncapped Lille full-back a surprise name on the stand-by list for the host nation.

But despite his international ambitions, Sidibe has still commented on his uncertain club future, with Sunderland, Monaco, PSG and Watford all mooted to be tracking the progress of the defender, who is predominantly a right-back.

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Lille are expected to cash-in on the 23-year-old this summer, albeit his suitors may have to cough up more than £10million to prize him away from the Ligue 1 side.

“Yes I have seen the speculation and my friends have been regularly sending me texts to tell me,” Sidibe told the French press.

“I’m a bit overwhelmed by it all and I faced the same situation when I left Troyes.

“There has been contact, I don’t deny that, but that’s all.

“My agent handles that, but I’m not involved in any of the talks yet. I have a contract with Lille.”

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Sunderland were first credited with an interest in Sidibe - who has another three years to run on his Lille contract - last month, but reports in France earlier this week indicated that the Black Cats and Monaco are now at the forefront of the queue for his signature.

Certainly, Sunderland are expected to make fresh inroads into the French market this summer after the successful acquisitions of Lamine Kone and Wahbi Khazri in the January transfer window.

Manager Sam Allardyce feels France offers value for money, particularly when transfer fees are expected to be further bloated over the next three months due to the new television deal.

Sunderland regularly scouted Ligue 1 games after Allardyce’s arrival last October, while Sidibe would also address the Black Cats’ need for a new right-back after the departure of Spurs loanee DeAndre Yedlin.

As the Gazette has reported, right-back is one of five positions that Sunderland have identified as a priority in the close season.