Derby County and Middlesbrough will both be playing Championship football next season.
The Rams won promotion from League One, finishing 2nd behind leaders Portsmouth while Boro were unable to emulate their push for the play-off spots of the 2022/23 campaign.
As such, both will be looking to strengthen this summer as they build towards their respective goals, and it is now claimed that the Championship rivals have identified a similar target in the form of striker Adama Sidibeh.
Football Insider claims Derby County, Middlesbrough, relegated Burnley and French side FC Metz are all plotting bids having registered interest in the 25-year-old striker.
He is under contract at Scottish Premiership side St Johnstone until 2026 having only signed this winter.
Fans of Derby County and Middlesbrough can be forgiven if they’ve not heard of Sidibeh yet. However, on his current trajectory, it might not be long before more are aware of his impressive rise.
Sidibeh made a huge jump up the leagues when joining St. Johnstone, signing from Warrington Rylands, who play in England’s Northern Premier League Premier Division, the seventh tier.
He took time to settle in and find his feet but has ended the season with five goals in seven games. Sidibeh scored in each of the last three games of the campaign as his side scraped survival.
Before his Scotland switch, he’d only ever played non-league in England and back in his native Gambia for Marimoo FC and Gambia Ports Authority FC.
Having made such a positive impact in Scotland, it might not be long before he earns another notable jump.
On Championship radars
In a short time in the professional game, Sidibeh has certainly caught the eye.
A move to Championship sides like Derby County, Middlesbrough or Burnley would make for a huge step up but after finding success north of the border, clubs will be looking at his rise and wondering just where he can go next with the right coaching in a higher level environment.
He could be a shrewd option in the striker market while clubs wrestle for goalscorers who have already proven themselves at a high level.
Whether or not their rumoured interest comes to anything though, time will tell.
