Stoke City midfielder and England youth international Sol Sidibe is supposedly a transfer target of Premier League outfit Aston Villa this summer, as the Potters themselves close in on their own first signing of what could be a busy few months.
The Telegraph reports that a number of clubs hold an interest in Sidibe, the son of former striker Mamady, but that Villa rate him particularly highly and consider him a player with an especially bright future.
Sidibe, who was born in France, was called up to represent England under 17s in 2023 and, last year he made his debut for the under 18s. He has since captained the young Lions in that age group, but domestically he has been exposed to plenty of first team football previously.
The 18 year old has made 21 appearances in all for Stoke's first team since his debut in August 2023. Last season, under Steven Schumacher and then Narcis Pelach, Sidibe continued to get a look in and made 13 appearances in league and cup, but didn't again after January when Mark Robins was appointed.
"It's a great reward because he is a very, very clever player," Pelach said of Sidibe's England captaincy in November. "I was really surprised when I first met him about his capability to think and to understand ideas and, as well, the way he expressed his ideas. It's rare for a player of his age and he's a lovely guy as well."
He signed a three-year contract last summer, meaning there are still two years left to run on that deal, but that wouldn't appear to have negated any interest, especially from Villa.
As mentioned, Stoke are close to their own first addition of the summer as Robins begins working on the squad he inherited in January, which he could only top up with the loan signings of Josh Wilson-Esbrand and Ali Al-Hamadi.
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