Who is Sidiki Chérif? Meet the Angers forward wanted by Crystal Palace

Kylian Mbappé is a natural reference point for a teenage forward plying his trade in Ligue 1, and Sidiki Chérif is no exception.

“When I was little, I was a big fan of Lionel Messi,” the 19-year-old Angers attacker reflected last year, shortly after being put forward by the Union Nationale des Footballeurs Professionnels for October’s young player of the month award.

“But the strikers I’m really most inspired by are [Real Madrid forward] Mbappé and [AC Milan winger] Rafael Leão. I love their speed, explosiveness and power. I often watch their matches.”

It shows. Chérif was nominated for the prize after scoring in three straight games against Monaco, FC Lorient and Marseille, by virtue of which he became the first 18-year-old to compile such a run in the French top-flight since Mbappé in 2017. 

If that offers an indication of Chérif’s precocity, so too does the fact that he took third place in a list of dribbles per 100 touches among under-19 players operating in Europe’s top five leagues. With a total of 29.35, the forward was eclipsed only by Barcelona’s Lamine Yamal (35.11) and Köln’s in-demand winger Said El Mala (45.59).

Why Sidiki Chérif is a player in demand

Clearly in elite company, Chérif is the focus of interest from clubs across the continent, with Crystal Palace the latest to join a list that also includes AC Milan, Villarreal and Eintracht Frankfurt. The winter transfer window had barely opened before Paris FC, evidently eager to steal a march on the competition, submitted a £20m bid for the player. It was quickly rebuffed by Angers, whose valuation of Chérif is understood to be closer to £26m.

While the forward has scored a relatively modest four goals in his 17 league appearances this season, it is not difficult to see why his services are coveted. Together with fellow academy product Prosper Peter, Chérif has played a vital role in filling the void created by the August departure of Esteban Lepaul, last season’s top scorer, to Ligue 1 rivals Rennes. Speedy, direct and noted for his ability to break the lines, the teenager is cast in a similar mould to Eberechi Eze, whose summer departure to Arsenal has been keenly felt at Selhurst Palace.

“Sidiki is powerful and attacks space very well,” says Alexandre Dujeux, the Angers manager, who believes Chérif’s burgeoning confidence owes much to his recovery from a series of physical setbacks, including a thigh injury that ruled him out for most of last season. 

“For him, the first goal was to see him continue with training sessions and matches. He needed to reassure himself. His goal against Monaco [his first in Ligue 1] did him a lot of good.”

‘I have always had big hopes for Sidiki Chérif’

Dujeux’s assessment is echoed by Lamine Mbaye, the club’s assistant manager, who also worked with both Chérif and Peter at under-19 and reserve level.

“It was an experience that made him grow,” Mbaye says of Chérif’s battles against his own body. “He realised what he was doing may not have been perfect, and far away from a top-level player, in terms of recovery, of work. When you get injured a third time, you become aware of lots of things. He has grown from those experiences. Maybe he needed that to understand certain things. I have always had big hopes for him, because he made a big impact at youth level.”

Chérif is all too aware of how a lack of emphasis on nutrition and recovery have informed his physical difficulties, and credits his various enforced absences for a more disciplined and mature approach that he hopes will yield sustained consistency.

Crystal Palace target Chérif: ‘ I had a tough time with injuries’

“Last season, I had a tough time with the injuries I had right at the start,” he said. “It was hard to come back after almost a year without playing. But now, it feels good to be playing matches regularly. I’m gradually getting back into the swing of things, getting my old form back, you could say, and it’s going well, so I hope it continues like this. 

“I’ve put things in place to make sure it goes well, with care, nutrition, recovery. I’ve done everything I can to recover as best as possible. It’s starting to take shape little by little. It’s a reminder that you have to be consistent if you want to perform well.

“I have a style that relies heavily on first steps, and I need to use my power. When I hadn’t regained those sensations, it was more difficult for me.”

‘We expect Sidiki Chérif to leave’

The expectation now is that the Guinea-born forward will bring that power to bear for a new club, with Palace firmly among the clubs in contention for his signature. Dujeux has admitted that he is resigned to Chérif’s departure.

“With the bids we’re getting, we expect Sidiki Chérif to leave,” the Angers boss said ahead of Sunday’s 2-1 defeat at Le Havre, where the forward once again spearheaded his 4-2-3-1 formation. “That’s how it is, I’ve accepted it. It’s important for the long-term stability of the club. This is not good news for me as a coach but, for the club, it is essential.”