Djibril Sidibe has said that he wanted to make his Everton loan move permanent last summer.

Carlo Ancelotti apparently told the 28-year-old that he was keen to retain him after he joined the Blues on loan from AS Monaco in August 2019.

The 18-cap Frenchman would go on to make 25 Premier League appearances and 28 in total (via Transfermarkt). In that time, the £6.3m-rated full-back provided five assists, one of which came in a memorable 3-1 victory over Chelsea.

Liverpool Echo journalist Adam Jones wrote in April 2020 that there were 'clear moments' during the season when it looked like a 'no-brainer' for Everton sign him long-term, although he did raise concerns over Sidibe's defending after he was 'caught out... on a number of occasions'.

Sidibe's 'first wish' to remain in the Premier League

With no agreement struck, the 28-year-old wound up returning to Monaco and has made 27 appearances in their push for Champions League qualification.

"My first wish was to continue in the Premier League," he revealed to L'Equipe's print edition, as quoted by Le10 Sport.

"When you play at Anfield or Old Trafford, you see the fans, the stadiums, it's the best for a football fan.

"And Carlo Ancelotti wanted me to stay."

Transfer Tavern verdict

Everton need a successor at right-back to Seamus Coleman, who turns 33 this year, and ultimately Sidibe didn't do enough to suggest he had what it takes. Given Monaco's success this season, you can't imagine he's filled with regret that it didn't work out on Merseyside.

For the Toffees' part, attention turns to Norwich City's Max Aarons who, at 21, could be Everton's right-back for a decade or more. The impressive Englishman is valued at £18m by Transfermarkt.

With Sidibe being one of their higher-ranked players by WhoScored last season, it is a pity that a permanent deal couldn't be struck, but Everton must look to the future rather than pondering what might have been,

In other news, many Evertonians slammed this defender after they were beaten by Villa at the weekend.