Aston Villa might be better placed to sign 24-year-old OGC Nice defender Jean-Clair Todibo than Manchester United this summer.
According to a report by French outlet Foot Mercato, Jean-Clair Todibo is the subject of interest from Aston Villa. The 24-year-old is also a target for Manchester United heading into the summer transfer window. However, the Villans are in a better position than their fellow Premier League club to land the OGC Nice defender due to the offer of UEFA Champions League football.
Jean-Clair Todibo and his rise at OGC Nice
Jean-Clair Todibo has resurrected his stuttering career since joining OGC Nice from Barcelona. The Frenchman would have hoped for a bright future at the Catalan club when he moved from Toulouse as a highly-rated teenager in January 2019. However, he could not establish a foothold in the first-team squad and embarked on multiple loan spells before finding a stable footing at OGC Nice.
The 24-year-old has turned out 136 times thus far for OGC Nice, chipping in with two goals and three assists. Todibo’s exploits have also helped him break into his national team, although Didier Deschamps did not pick him for the UEFA Euro 2024 squad. Meanwhile, the player’s progress has not gone unnoticed.
Several high-profile clubs across Europe are keen on signing the French international in the summer transfer window. The report by Foot Mercato has suggested that Bayer Leverkusen and Borussia Dortmund are interested in Todibo. However, a move to the Premier League might be possible, with Aston Villa and Manchester United vying for his signature.
Premier League beckons?
Aston Villa’s interest in Jean-Clair Todibo is understandable. Clement Lenglet has returned to Barcelona after his loan spell at Villa Park, while Calum Chambers faces an uncertain future at the West Midlands club. So, it behoves Aston Villa to invest in a centre-back, with Todibo emerging as a viable target.
As for Manchester United, recent reports have suggested that they might miss out on Todibo. The update by Foot Mercato corroborates that notion, claiming Aston Villa will be in a better position than Manchester United to sign the 24-year-old Frenchman, who could have replaced his compatriot Raphael Varane at Old Trafford.
Aston Villa will offer UEFA Champions League football to new signings, making Villa Park an attractive destination. However, it will be interesting to see if the Red Devils can turn Todibo’s head and bring him to Old Trafford.
