Manchester United’s manager, Erik ten Hag, is reportedly urging the club’s board to make a bid for Nice centre-back Jean Clair Todibo as the Red Devils seek defensive reinforcements in the upcoming January transfer window. United’s defensive struggles have been evident in the Premier League, with four defeats in their opening seven games, conceding 11 goals.
Injuries have played a role in their defensive setbacks, with Raphael Varane and Lisandro Martinez both missing crucial matches. Varane, a key signing, was absent in defeats against Brighton and Arsenal in the Premier League, as well as their opening Champions League loss to Bayern Munich. Martinez, another first-choice defender, is now expected to be out for a considerable period after undergoing surgery.
With the need to shore up their backline, Erik ten Hag is said to be ‘obsessed’ with Jean Clair Todibo, according to Nacional. Todibo, formerly of Barcelona, has found success in Ligue 1 with Nice in recent seasons. The 23-year-old has reportedly caught the attention of the Manchester United manager, who has requested the board to make an effort to sign him, with a proposed fee of around €40 million.
According to transfer expert Fabrizio Romano, Todibo is one of three names on United’s shortlist. The other two include Bayer Leverkusen’s Edmond Tapsoba and Antonio Silva from Benfica. Romano suggests that the collapsed move of Harry Maguire to West Ham in the summer halted United’s plans to sign a centre-back. The proposed January move for a defender will once again depend on Maguire, who has expressed his desire to stay at Old Trafford and compete for his place in the team.
Maguire addressed the failed move to West Ham, stating, “How can I put this? We just didn’t come to an agreement. They were happy for me to stay, and I was happy to fight for my place. I want to do that, and every time I train or play, I will give everything.”
As the January transfer window approaches, Manchester United will be closely monitoring their defensive options, with Todibo emerging as a potential solution to bolster their backline.
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