Roland Cutinho
Manchester United are close to signing Nice centre-back Jean Claire-Todibo after missing out on Benjamin Pavard
According to French outlet L’Equipe [subscription required] (h/t the Metro), promising Nice defender Jean-Clair Todibo appears to be on the verge of joining Manchester United.
This transfer rumour comes after United’s previous interest in Bayern Munich star Benjamin Pavard failed to materialise as Harry Maguire decided to stay with the club.
The Red Devils had initially intended to raise funds by selling the English centre-back to West Ham United before making an official move to acquire the World Cup-winning defender from the Bavarian giants.
However, Inter Milan have now secured a verbal agreement for the signing of Pavard, with the transfer set to happen once Bayern secures a suitable replacement.
In the midst of these developments, L’Equipe has stated that Todibo is catching United’s attention, and a potential move to Old Trafford seems likely. The French youngster, who is also the vice-captain of Nice, is valued at £34.1 million.
The defender faced challenges when he first ventured into senior football, experiencing unsuccessful stints at Barcelona, Schalke, and Benfica. However, he has rediscovered his form in France with Nice and even received his first national team call-up in March.
While Todibo’s contract with his parent club runs until 2027, the opportunity of moving to the Premier League might be too tempting to resist.
The former France Under-20s player made just a single appearance this season, on August 11 against Lille. United scouts watched him in action in the curtain raiser. However, he was notably absent from the squad in their recent match against Lorient on Sunday night.
The United target has established himself as one of the top centre-backs in Ligue 1 over the past year. Todibo shares many defensive qualities with Pavard, including strong ball-handling skills, a willingness to make tackles, and being solid in aerial duels.
Unlike the Bayern star, he isn’t as versatile to operate as a right-back, but this shouldn’t pose a concern for United as they are well-covered in that position.
While Raphael Varane and Lisandro Martinez are the preferred starters under Ten Hag, Varane’s history of injuries could provide Todibo with an opportunity to break into the starting lineup.
The Nice star appears to be a smart investment for the English giants at its current price. However, the key question revolves around whether the club has the necessary funds to secure his services in the upcoming days.
Even though Maguire declined the opportunity to join West Ham, there remains a possibility that he could still leave Old Trafford before the transfer window closes.
There were doubts about the 30-year-old’s future when he was left out of the Red Devils’ squad for their Premier League match against Tottenham Hotspur on Saturday.
However, it was later revealed that the former captain’s absence was due to a minor injury. Considering Financial Fair Play issues, the possibility of signing Todibo might still hinge on Maguire leaving the club.
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It could also rely on Man United generating adequate funds through other potential player sales. Hence, we believe that there is still a long road to cover in this transfer saga.
