Sidibe 'set to clear medical' as Aston Villa eye £20m swoop
Aston Villa are keen on bringing Stoke City youngster Sol Sidibe to Villa Park in the summer transfer window.
Dr Rajpal Brar, an injury expert, has assessed the 18-year-old's recent back fracture that kept him out of action for months.
Prior to the injury, the midfielder had made eight appearances as he has yet to establish himself as a regular senior player.
Sidibe expected to clear his medical despite the back injury
The English teenager's back injury isn't a concern for his recovery and is something common among younger players, according to Dr Brar.
This should not cause issues with him clearing his medical ahead of a potential transfer this summer.
Aston Villa are keen on Sidibe and there are other clubs that have shown an interest in him as well. [Paul Joyce, 6 June]
Former Villa scout Bryan King believes that Stoke may actually make around £20million from this deal with add-ons taking it to that figure.
| Team | Appearances | Goals | Assists |
|---|---|---|---|
| Stoke U18 | 31 | - | 5 |
| Stoke City | 21 | - | 2 |
| Stoke U21 | 17 | 1 | 4 |
Speaking about this situation, Dr Brar, a doctor in physical therapy and a sports scientist, told Villa News:
"He had a fracture in his back, which kept him out of action for a while.
"There isn’t a concern for his recovery or long-term, so it won’t impact a signing club’s approach.
"These low back fractures are relatively common in younger players.
"I expect him to clear his medical."
Aston Villa will be signing one for the future in Sidibe
Aston Villa should sign Sidibe as a future first-team regular due to his immense potential as an 18-year-old midfielder.
His 21 senior appearances for Stoke City, despite a pars fracture setback, showcase his technical ability, physicality and game-reading skills, ideal for a box-to-box or number six role in Unai Emery’s 4-2-3-1.
Sidibe’s England Under-18 captaincy and interest from top clubs highlight his pedigree.
The Villa Park outfit's track record of developing talents like Morgan Rogers makes them ideal for nurturing Sidibe, offering a cost-effective, high-potential signing to bolster their midfield for years.
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