French winger Richie Dilemfu recommended to Ebbsfleet United by AFC Bournemouth striker Yann Kermorgant
Published: 19:00, 19 July 2014
Updated: 22:44, 19 July 2014
Ebbsfleet United are considering a move for French winger Richie Dilemfu.
Dilemfu played almost an hour of the Fleet's 4-0 win over Dagenham & Redbridge on Saturday, having been recommended to manager Steve Brown by former Charlton Athletic striker Yann Kermorgant.
Having never played in England before, Dilemfu is certainly an unknown quantity.
Brown said: "He’s a tricky winger. He doesn’t speak any English, so the reason he was on the right-hand side is that (Chris) Sessegnon speaks fluent French.
"He has the ability to beat full-backs, which is a great asset for a winger.
"He looked a little bit shell-shocked by the physicality and I think he’s a bit short in terms of fitness. He’s been offered a contract in France, in the fourth tier, but we’re happy to look at him.
"I like wingers that beat players. It’s gone out of the game a little bit, but I like wide players that beat players. Physically is my issue with Richie.
"He got sent over by Yann Kermorgant, who was at Charlton and has gone down to Bournemouth. He said 'just have a look at him, I think he’s worth a look', so we did. I quite like him, but there’s no point in bringing somebody over if they’re not going to threaten every week."
Alex Osborn, who joined Ebbsfleet permanently from Dagenham earlier in the summer, is the only naturally right-sided midfielder in Brown's 21-man squad.
Brown said: "It is a position that I’m looking at. I’ve got Os but there’s no real competition.
"I don’t want to just play Os there or maybe push Sess forward and play Joe Howe at right-back. I’d like to have the option of having another winger in the building.
"I thought (Dilemfu) did OK on Saturday. You think, if you stick somebody in that doesn’t speak the language, in a team, against Dagenham, that’s about as good as it could have got.
"There were little bits and pieces that we addressed at half-time, with Sess as the translator, and I thought he did terrific.
"My only issue is physically and the fact he’s been offered a contract by somebody in France already."
Ebbsfleet are at home to Charlton on Wednesday night.
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Steve Tervet