Aly Cissokho

[Dharmabum]

He looked like the real deal a the season he was about to join AC Milan (2009) - but joined Lyon instead. However, since then he's failed to live up to his early promises and he's in no way better than Ekotto. Besides, he's been linked to Spurs of the last 4-5 seasons anyway, so just some lazy jornous filling their time to "earn" their salt.

http://www.insidefutbol.com/2013/03...on-everton-and-tottenham-hotspur-radar/81827/

 

[Barry Mead]

I like Cissokho and thought he looked great at Porto and practically every time I saw him play for OL too, funny enough I've hardly seen him play for Valencia this season so can't really say what he's been like.
I'm not a fan of Benny's, particularly his defending and though it seems practically all full backs these days are better attacking than defending I think he's a better defensive reader than Benny and whereas Benny has his strengths going forward Cissokho looks comfortable overlapping which Benny isn't and with Bale no longer playing a more dedicated wing role we do need an overlapping lb far more than one who tends to prefer hitting crosses and passes from deeper positions and doesn't look comfortable on the overlap.
I also think that Cissokho linked well defensively with Lovren who is a natural left sided CB so imagine he would get a similar understanding with Verts if he signed, so would be very happy if we signed him
All that said I wonder if this is all down to recent links to other left backs rather than anything of substance. Shaw does look very much a Levy target but inexperience, cost and competition for his signature will raise question marks. Valencia have huge debts so Cissokho could prove gettable at a fairly cheap price (he only cost Valencia 5 or 6 mill euros) and has decent experience now and at 25 still to come into his peak years.
My gut feeling is that Benny just turning 29 this month will be off this summer both because AVB seems unconvinced and his age suggests we'll never get as much for him as we might this summer and I think Levy will try for Shaw but Cissokho could well be a favoured option if he can't tie up a deal with the Saints