“I’m told…” – Fabrizio Romano claims Man United third signing set – “very interesting” transfer

Will Todibo join Manchester United?

Erik Ten Hag is still not content with his defensive unit, despite keeping the most clean sheets in the Premier League last season.

David de Gea is leaving Old Trafford after 12 years as the club’s number one, Phil Jones has already left, and there are reports that Eric Bailly, Alex Telles, and Harry Maguire are also on their way out.

This upheaval will have a significant impact on United’s transfer intentions this summer, and Ten Hag will now need to reinforce his backline.

Andre Onana will take De Gea’s spot, while the Red Devils are already well-stocked at left-back, leaving the lone position to fill in the middle of the defense.

Todibo, the 23-year-old Nice defender mentioned as a target with huge future potential and potentially costing over £39 million, is one candidate Ten Hag may turn to, according to transfer analyst Romano.

“They sent their scouts multiple times, I’m told, to watch Jean-Clair Todibo, who did very well in Ligue 1 last season,” Romano told GIVEMESPORT. They are keeping an eye on this player, but there has been no concrete progress in terms of discussions.”

After first joining Nice on loan from Barcelona in February 2021, the defender made the move permanent five months later and has since thrived in the south of France.

Ten Hag appears to have taken notice of his strong performances, and the fact that the Dutchman has sent scouts to watch him on many occasions suggests that United appreciate what they have seen from the 23-year-old.

United was associated with Kim Min-Jae as a centre-back target in the past, but he is now with Bayern Munich, while Todibo’s compatriot Axel Disasi of Monaco has also been linked to last season’s Carabao Cup winners.

If Jim Ratcliffe, the present owner of Nice, takes over United, a transaction may be more readily negotiated.

Todibo’s Man United target?

Todibo, who joined Barcelona for £850,000 from Toulouse in 2019, had high expectations after being described as a very interesting youngster.

This expectation was heightened when German legend Lothar Matthaus complimented Todibo during his loan period at Schalke as the “best center-back I’ve seen in a long time” and praised him for his cool manner at such a young age.

However, he only appeared in five games for La Blaugrana before joining Nice on loan from Benfica. Since then, he has made 103 appearances for the Eaglets, averaging a 6.94 rating on Sofascore in Ligue 1.

One of his primary talents is his passing ability, which he demonstrated last season when compared to other French top-tier center-backs.

Todibo had a passing accuracy of 88.5%, with short and medium accuracy of 95% and 94.7%, respectively. On average, he was in the top 6% of players for progressive passing distance in each match, demonstrating his talent and ease with the ball at his feet.

He is also a skilled and capable defender who excels in one-on-one situations. Todibo was in the top 11% of Ligue 1 center-backs in tackles won, tackles in the defensive third, and dribblers tackled per 90 minutes last season.

Overall, Todibo appears to have the potential to be a world-beater, and Ten Hag may be the man to help him reach new heights.