The most unlikely of Brendan Rodgers signings

Kalidou Sidibe has been discussing the progress that he has made this season in the French second tier at Guingamp.

French reports have credited Celtic with an interest in the midfielder but it seems much more of a summer 2023 Mark Lawwell type signing rather than the Champions League ready signings that Brendan Rodgers forced through last summer.

At the age of 26 it is unlikely that a player in the French Second Division falls into the hidden gem category. French football is renowned for producing quality players with the leading domestic clubs having first look at emerging talent.

After starting his career at Paris FC, not Paris Saint-Germain, Sidibe has turned out for Quevilly Rouen and Toulouse in recent seasons before finding form at Guingamp who are currently fifth in Ligue 2.

It all seems far fetched to imagine the 26-year-old playing for Celtic next summer but picking up on quotes from France the Daily Record reports:

I’ve aged a year, and matured in my season here.

I also think the team’s style of play has had an influence. We have more of the ball, we’re more in position with very clear positional play.

I know exactly what I have to do when we have the ball. That’s what helps a lot. It allows me to bring out my qualities with the ball at my feet.

I can express myself with the ball. The coach also asked me to be calmer at the start of the season, to spread that to the other players. I took that into account and I am happy.

There appears to be virtually nothing about Sidibe that stands out other than his height – being 6 foot 6 would bring a new element to the Celtic midfield- if he has ability.

In recent seasons Celtic have tried with Oliver Abildgaard and Kwon Hyeok-kyu to add physicality to midfield but neither was upto the task.

First time around Rodgers was keen on signing young physical French players such as Odsonne Edouard, Moussa Dembele and Olivier Ntcham but other than that French connection it is difficult to see the Celtic boss getting enthusiastic over being offered Sidibe by the club’s scouting department.

CLICK HERE for Sidibe’s Transfermarkt profile