Manchester United willing to pay £35m for OGC Nice defender Jean-Clair Todibo, Liverpool and Newcastle also interested

Manchester United are in a transfer race with Liverpool and Newcastle United for the signing of OGC Nice defender Jean-Clair Todibo.

Jean-Clair Todibo

Jean-Clair Todibo, 23, has managed to revive his career with OGC Nice after enduring a tough time with Barcelona, Schalke and Benfica. After his loan deal was mutually terminated by Barcelona and Benfica, the Frenchman initially joined Nice on loan in January 2021 before his move was made permanent at the end of the season.

The 23-year-old has since excelled with Nice, and is living up to the reputation that once made him one of France’s best up-and-coming defenders. Todibo enjoying a strong season in Ligue 1 has gone unnoticed, with Manchester United reportedly ready to splash close to the £35m mark to seal his signature in the summer. In addition to interest from Premier League clubs, Todibo is also on the radar of Italian clubs, including Juventus and Napoli.

Man United looking for Varane back-up; Maguire could be sold

Manchester United are sweating over the fitness of defender Raphael Varane, with Erik ten Hag’s men in a tight race to qualify for next campaign’s Champions League.

Varane, 30, suffered an ankle injury during Man United’s Europa League quarter-final first-leg against Sevilla at Old Trafford earlier this month, and while Ten Hag had hoped he could get the experienced defender back before the FA Cup final against Man City in June, the Frenchman reportedly has a slim chance of featuring in that exciting clash at the Wembley Stadium.

United will also be without Lisandro Martinez, who has been ruled out for the rest of the season after undergoing ankle surgery.

Due to Varane’s frequent injury problems, United are looking for a competent back-up and could find one in Todibo. At 23, there is a lot for Ten Hag to like about Todibo’s style of play and qualities. The Frenchman’s mixture of ball-playing ability, tackling, strength and athleticism in the air would make him a top addition to United’s defensive unit.

Meanwhile, the Red Devils are open to listen to offers for captain Harry Maguire in the summer. Maguire has spent the majority of the season on the bench with Ten Hag preferring the centre-back pairing of Martinez and Varane.

After substandard displays in the limited opportunities he has got in the ongoing season, Ten Hag is planning to sell the England international in a ruthless summer clear-out of his squad.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *