Manchester United ‘make contact over Jean-Clair Todibo
Manchester United have reportedly made contact with Nice over the potential signing of defender Jean-Clair Todibo in the closing stages of the summer window.
The 23-year-old featured 34 times for the French outfit last season – 33 of which came from the start – helping the club to finish ninth in Ligue 1 in the 2022-23 term.
Todibo has turned out on 105 occasions for Francesco Farioli‘s men since joining on loan from Barcelona in January 2021, after which he made the move permanent in the summer of that year.
The centre-back is yet to make a senior appearance for France despite being called up to an international camp, however he has featured for his nation at Under-20 level.
According to The Sun, Manchester United are interested in signing Todibo in the final moments of this summer’s transfer window, motivated by an ongoing injury crisis.
The Red Devils are set to be without World Cup winner Raphael Varane for over a month, after the 30-year-old was forced off during his side’s match against Nottingham Forest on Saturday afternoon.
Erik ten Hag‘s men went on to complete a comeback after falling behind at Old Trafford, with Swede Victor Lindelof partnering Lisandro Martinez at the heart of the hosts’ defence in the second half.
The report claims that Man United are set to offer Todibo a £385,000-per-week deal at the club as they attempt to lure him away from Nice, meaning the player’s wages would significantly increase.
It is also understood that Ten Hag’s side would pay the centre-back a £3m signing bonus, although the Frenchman is not a stranger to rejecting big-money advances.
It is believed that Todibo snubbed an approach from an unnamed Saudi Pro League club earlier in the summer, with the defender set to earn £18m per year if he did switch to the Middle East.
Nice are reportedly demanding £47m for the 23-year-old, although it remains to be seen whether Man United can secure the services for the player for less before 11pm on Friday.
It was reported last week that United were closing in on the signing of Todibo for just £34m, with any switch to Old Trafford for the France international dependent on the departure of Harry Maguire.
The Three Lions stalwart has been stripped of captaincy at Old Trafford and is a player the club are actively trying to offload before the end of the summer window.
Eight days on from a disappointing loss at Tottenham Hotspur, Man United return to North London to face Mikel Arteta‘s Arsenal at the Emirates in the Premier League.
With Varane and Luke Shaw ruled out due to their respective knocks, Lindelof and Martinez are expected to be the central-defensive pairing versus the title-chasing Gunners.
