Nottingham Forest were close to signing World Cup winner, called off deal

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Nottingham Forest decided against bringing former Everton defender Djibril Sidibe back to the Premier League before the 2018 World Cup winner joined Greek outfit AEK Athens instead, as reported by L’Equipe. 

Forest, it seems, opted to stop at 22.

Last week, Serge Aurier became the latest in a long line of summer signings at the City Ground; the one-time Tottenham Hotspur full-back joining after just one season at La Liga outfit Villarreal. 

But Sidibe would not be joining Aurier at the two-time European Champions. Nottingham Forest reportedly agreed to bring in the 30-year-old France international. But, according to L’Equipe, Steve Cooper’s side walked away from the table after landing Aurier instead. 

Forest allegedly ‘preferred’ the Ivorian to the Frenchman. Perhaps he was seen as a better fit for Steve Cooper’s free-flowing adventurous style of play.

Nottingham Forest choose Serge Aurier over Djibril Sidibe

Aurier, having signed a one-year deal, should compete with the excellent Neco Williams for a starting spot at right-wing back in Cooper’s 3-4-2-1 formation. Sidibe is not quite as attack-minded as Aurier, of course, and therefore might not have been such a natural fit on the flanks. 

Having said that, he could have slotted in as a right-sided centre-back in the three-man defence. Sidibe, during his final campaign at Monaco, played in a more central role than previously.

“Sidibe is remarkable,” former AEK Athens ace Michalis Simigdalas tells SportDog. “We know him.” 

Sidibe had also been linked with West Ham United and Fulham earlier in the window. The Hammers already have Vladimir Coufal and Ben Johnson fighting for a starting spot on the right, however, while Fulham brought in ex-Newcastle United youngster Kevin Mbabu from Bundesliga outfit Wolfsburg. 

Mbabu set up Aleksander Mitrovic’s late winner in the 3-2 victory over Brentford last month.

“The first step is to stay in the Premier League,” Mbabu explains. “And then why not aim for the top 10? I am a very offensive full-back, but I am a tough player, very aggressive and always fighting for the team. 

“I like the philosophy of Marco Silva and he told me he wants his team to have the ball for most of the time; for at least more than 50 per cent of the time. He wants to play from the back and have offensive full-backs.”