Lincoln City have been credited with interest in Adama Sidibeh over the past fortnight, but that speculation now looks to be at an end.
The Imps appear set to miss out after Stockport County agreed a six-figure deal with St Johnstone for the Gambian international.
Imps Linked, But Stockport Strike First
Stockport have agreed a deal with St Johnstone to sign striker Sidibeh, with the forward now travelling south to complete a medical. Reports north of the border indicate that the League One promotion hopefuls have made a third offer which finally met St Johnstone’s valuation, believed to be comfortably into six figures.
Sidibeh, who turns 28 later this year, had made it clear that he wanted the move this month rather than waiting for the summer, despite the possibility of pre-contract offers being available. Stockport’s push for promotion is thought to have been a key factor, mirroring the ambitions of St Johnstone under new head coach Simo Valakari.
The Scottish club had previously rejected bids in the £40,000 range, with interest also reported from Northampton Town. However, Stockport’s willingness to meet the asking price has now settled the matter.
Where Lincoln City Fitted In
Sidibeh’s name will be familiar after earlier reports suggested we were among a long list of clubs monitoring the situation. According to Alan Nixon (immediate red flag there, by the way), City were one of several sides keeping an eye on developments, alongside Barnsley, MK Dons, Bristol Rovers and Stevenage. The suggestion at the time was that this was more likely a summer opportunity, with the player waiting to see whether Championship interest emerged.
As is often the case with stories involving multiple clubs and an expiring contract, it had the feel of something agent-driven rather than a move with real momentum behind it from our perspective. That impression has only strengthened now that Stockport have acted decisively, and we have been quite clear about what we want from this window.
Is Sidibeh the Right Fit Anyway?
Looking purely at the numbers, Sidibeh’s record is mixed. At international level, he has seven goals in nine appearances for the Gambia national football team, with hauls against Seychelles, Equatorial Guinea and Gabon inflating that return, which is probably the same as scoring against Harrogate, Boreham Wood and Grimsby for us. Domestically, he has seven goals in 26 league outings for St Johnstone this season, with three of those coming in a single match against Airdrie and another against League Two opposition in the cup.
There are positives. He is mobile, likes to carry the ball and will commit defenders, while he bagged four goal involvements in four matches recently. However, the underlying data raises questions. With six goals from an expected goals figure of 6.42, he is underperforming slightly, and his output across a full season has been patchy rather than consistent.
At 27-years-old and commanding a six-figure fee, this always felt like a deal that would sit outside our usual recruitment profile, particularly in January. While the link was interesting, and his physical profile is one that might appeal in League One, it is hard to see this as a missed opportunity for the Imps.