Tottenham will reportedly compete with Liverpool and Manchester United for OGC Nice defender Jean-Clair Todibo, whose price tag is £39 million.
According to a report by Evening Standard, Jean-Clair Todibo is the subject of interest from Tottenham. Liverpool and Manchester United are also interested in the in-demand French centre-back. Meanwhile, OGC Nice will demand around £39 million to part ways with the former Barcelona defender.
Jean-Clair Todibo has established himself as one of the best defenders in Ligue 1 since joining Barcelona. The 23-year-old was among the best young prospects in his homeland when he moved to Camp Nou from Toulouse. But the move did not work out, with the youngster struggling to establish a foothold at the Catalan club.
Loan spells at Schalke 04 and Benfica helped him regain some confidence before he finally moved to Nice in 2021. The Ligue 1 club initially secured Todibo’s services on loan before completing a permanent transfer in July 2021. The Frenchman has turned out 114 times thus far for OGC Nice, chipping in with two goals and an assist.
Todibo’s progress has also helped him break into the French national team, and he has made two appearances thus far for Les Bleus. Meanwhile, the player has captured the attention of many Premier League bigwigs, including Liverpool and Manchester United. The two bitter rivals now face stiff competition from Tottenham.
Tottenham can do with at least one new centre-back, with the absence of Micky van de Ven and Cristian Romero exposing them. Frail at the back, the North London club’s results have gone for a toss. So, it behoves Tottenham to invest in a centre-back in January, with Jean-Clair Todibo emerging as a viable target.
As for Liverpool, the Reds need to dip their toes in the market for a centre-back amid Joel Matip and Virgil van Dijk’s advancing years. Several centre-backs, including Goncalo Inacio, have thus emerged on Liverpool’s radar. Meanwhile, Manchester United tried securing Todibo’s services this past summer. But a move did not materialise after the Frenchman rejected the opportunity.
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The 23-year-old will not cost a bomb, with OGC Nice demanding £39 million to part ways with him. All three Premier League clubs are financially strong enough to afford Jean-Clair Todibo. So, it will be interesting to see if Tottenham can beat Liverpool and Manchester United to his signature.
