Tottenham Hotspur to battle Manchester United and Liverpool for Jean-Clair Todibo
OGC Nice defender Jean-Clair Todibo is one of the finest young centre-backs in Ligue 1 and has now caught the attention of Tottenham Hotspur ahead of the 2024 January transfer window.
The 23-year-old is a former Barcelona star who finally appears to be doing his potential justice in top flight football. A regular fixture in the Los Aiglons’ backline, Todibo has aided the French side’s excellent start to the 2023-24 league campaign. Having conceded just four goals in their opening 13 Ligue 1 games, the Nice rearguard has made a telling difference to the club’s fortunes.
Nice are currently the only unbeaten side in the French top flight this season and currently occupy the second spot, one point worse off than defending champions, Paris Saint-Germain.
A solid defence is something Ange Postecoglou can do with at Tottenham. The Spurs boss finds himself in a position of bother following three Premier League losses on the spin. With Manchester City up next, things could get worse before they improve for the men in white.
One aspect that needs addressing is the centre-back roster. While Cristian Romero and Micky van de Ven have formed a solid partnership at the heart of the rearguard, the falloff in quality when the both of them are unavailable has been telling.
According to The Standard, Tottenham are prioritising the signing of a new centre-back in January and have earmarked Todibo as an option. Valued at around £39m, the French international could prove to be excellent value for money.
A move for the Nice star will not be easy with Liverpool and Manchester United also in the fray. Both clubs are also top four challengers and are unlikely to give us a clear run at the Les Bleus defender.
Of the two, Manchester United could prove to be the bigger obstacle given the impending investment by Sir Jim Ratcliffe. The British billionaire already owns OGC Nice and could opt to sanction a move that will benefit the Red Devils.
More so, Todibo while being keen to move to the Premier League will seek regular playtime in the first XI. Whether that is something that Tottenham are willing to offer should Romero and Van de Ven both be available remains to be seen.
More Tottenham Hotspur News
- Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg expected to stay at Tottenham amid exit links
- Trevoh Chalobah could still move to Tottenham as per Dean Jones
- Paul Merson urges Tottenham manager Ange Postecoglou to alter tactics ahead of Man City clash
At just 23, Todibo is still developing and has the potential to be a long term fixture in our roster for years to come. A solid tackler and passer, he not only meets the criteria of a no-nonsense defender but also the ability to play out from the back as Postecoglou demands.
