Judging by recent ɾєρօɾτs,Liverpooland Manchester United could go head-to-head in a battle to sign a coveted French defєɴԀer.
Nice-Matin have claimed (viaGFFN) that Jurgen Klopp’s side are targeting a move for Jean-Clair Todibo, who’s believed to have been scouted by the Old Trafford club (Ben Jacobs forCaughtOffside), with a potential face-off ensuing between the two northwestern rivals.
The Nice centre-back – whose asking price is thought to be€30m(£26m) – isn’t the only player from the Ligue 1 outfit who the Reds are chasing, with transfer talks ongoing with his teammate Khephren Thuram (Football Insider).
If a Ԁєɑł gets done for the France under-21 midfielder,Liverpoolcould potentially try to use him as an agent of sorts to see if he can entice his clubmate and compatriot to replicate his transfer route this summer.
Todibo’s stock may have fallen after his short-lived spell at Barcelona at the turn of the decade, but he’s rebuilt his reputation at Nice, for whom he was their second-most used outfield player last season as he exceeded the 4,000-minute mark (Transfermarkt).
He was clearly a much-trusted figure in the French Riviera, and he also earned huge plaudits from one-time World Cup-winning captain Lothar Matthaus, who said during a loan spell at Schalke 04 in 2020: “Todibo is the best centre back I’ve seen in a long time” (Tribuna).
The main concerns regarding a potential move for him are that he hasnever played on either flank, unlike some of Liverpool’sother defensive targets, while his right-footedness matches rather than complements Klopp’s existing centre-back options.
The Reds manager may feel it’s more imperative to instead bring in a versatile defєɴԀer who could offer a left-footed central option, although the prospect of seeing him join United instead may disgust the Anfield hierarchy.
IfLFCget Thuram thɾօυɢҺ the door before long, he may be the perfect candidate to provide a trusted character reference on his current teammate.
