Nice defender Jean-Clair Todibo is closing in on a £34million move to Manchester United, according to reports.
Erik ten Hag’s side have been in the market for a new centre-back this summer despite uncertainty over Harry Maguire’s future at the club
Maguire was set to join Premier League rivals West Ham in a £30m deal but the deal collapsed as he is said to have wanted a pay-off of around £7m to leave United. The England international’s departure looks to be no closer and remains likely to stay, but according to L’Equipe via Get Football, Todibo’s move to the Red Devils is ‘in sight’.Unites were keen on Bayern Munich defender Benjamin Pavard but he has reportedly turned down the move in favour of joining Inter Milan.
Todibo endured a difficult start to senior football with unsuccessful spells at Barcelona, Schalke and Benfica. But the 23-year-old has found his feet back in France with Nice and earned his first international call-up for France in March. His contract with the Ligue 1 side expires in 2027 but the opportunity to join the Premier League could be difficult to turn down. The Nice vice-captain named United defender Raphael Varane as one of his inspirations when speaking about his future last season. ‘For the coach to have a clear idea of my personality, I have to be as natural as possible,’ Todibo said. ‘My journey, I’ve known it for a while and I’ve lived it, with good periods and a little less good. I only think about performing and bringing as much as possible to the group.’I am inspired by Thiago Silva and Van Dijk, they are the ones I watch the most. I was also inspired by Varane.
‘I am under contract with Nice until 2027. I don’t know if the right choice would be to go elsewhere. This is not the time to think about it. I am much more serene at this level with the experiences, if I have to make a choice I will do it with a lot of thought.’
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