West Ham star Jean-Clair Todibo drops clear future hint amid Man United links. The spectre of Man United may not be what it once was but it has loomed large over West Ham star Jean-Clair Todibo from the start.
There is not much to choose between Manchester United and West Ham United this season. Both have been wildly below expectations, sitting 13th and 16th in the Premier League respectively with nine games to go. Man United do at least have the possibility of a Europa League triumph saving their campaign.
West Ham’s was all but over the moment they went out of the FA Cup 48 hours after Graham Potter’s arrival in January. The Red Devils and Hammers have been intrinsically linked this season.
West Ham held high profile talks with Ruben Amorim about replacing David Moyes. West Ham and Man United seasons intrinsically linked
But it quickly became clear the cost of that appointment – £20m just to get Amorim and his staff out of Sporting for a non Champions League club as well as big wages – was never going to happen. West Ham appointed Julen Lopetegui instead, who had been linked with Man United.
INEOS, the co-owners at Old Trafford, elected to stick with Erik ten Hag after he led them to the FA Cup. Both proved terrible decisions.
West Ham were then the Grim Reaper for Ten Hag as a late Man United defeat at the London Stadium saw the Dutchman sacked.
There was no lack of irony as the Hammers had a big hand in Amorim coming to the Premier League after all as a direct result.
The ties between the two clubs don’t end there.
Sir Jim Ratcliffe was linked with a takeover of West Ham if his bid for boyhood club Man United did not work out.
It did of course, and in the background the Red Devils have cast a shadow over one West Ham player in particular.
Jean-Clair Todibo was arguably West Ham’s best and most impressive signing of a busy summer transfer window.
But Man United were always the elephant in the room for the deal. Manchester United’s co-owners INEOS tried also own Nice.
But when Old Trafford chiefs tried to sign French centre-back Todibo UEFA intervened and blocked the transfer due to strict multi-club ownership rules. Sensing an opportunity, West Ham – who have been linked with 24-year-old Frenchman Todibo in the past – sensed an opportunity and pounced.
Hammers pounced for Todibo after UEFA stopped Man United
Ratcliffe did not name Todibo directly, but confirmed at the time Man United cannot buy directly from Nice due to the ownership situation.
It had been suggested that West Ham would essentially be “parking” the ex Barca defender in east London. That would then allow Man United to sign him in the summer.
After all, would INEOS sanction the move for a player they clearly want to bring to Man United unless some sort of gentleman’s agreement was in place?
Todibo signed on a season-long loan from Nice with an obligation to buy after five Premier League starts – and providing the Hammers stayed in the top flight.
That means the obligation is going to be triggered. But as of now Nice – and INEOS – actually still own Todibo.
The 25-year-old has had a very strange season indeed.
After arriving with a lack of fitness and conditioning, Todibo was drip-fed into the West Ham team by Lopetegui for months – much to the frustration of fans.
He had a blazing bust-up with Lopetegui during a 5-2 defeat to Arsenal and the pair had to be separated, resulting in Todibo being banished to the Under 21s as punishment.
He has been very injury-prone too, having several spells out of the team, including for the first six weeks of Potter’s tenure.
Todibo’s performances have also been hot and cold, looking like an elite centre-back in some games but failing to impress in others.
He has been slowly ramping up his minutes in recent matches following his return to the fold and is looking better in Potter’s system.
West Ham star Todibo drops clear hint amid Man United links. But will he be around to really thrive in it, after the inevitable Todibo links to Man United reared their head again.
It has been suggested that Todibo is regretting signing for West Ham.
Just two days ago fresh claims emerged that Todibo could join the Red Devils this summer.
Now the West Ham star has dropped a clear hint over his future amid Man United links.
And Todibo has made a mockery of the Man United links, declaring he loves it at West Ham and suggesting he’s here to stay.
“I think as time has gone on, we all understand better what we have to do as players, and the coach and his staff have helped.
