Jean-Clair Todibo saga takes major twist after report’s big £40m West Ham claim. West Ham United have made numerous approaches for Nice centre-back Jean-Clair Todibo since last month, but we’ve seemingly hit a dead end every time. The problem is that the defender seemingly isn’t keen on a move to the London Stadium.
West Ham were first linked with a move to sign Jean-Clair Todibo a few weeks ago, but the links seemed far fetched at the time. However, since then the money spent by the Hammers owners proves just how ambitious they are.
The towering Frenchman would be a sensational addition for West Ham, and signing him would be a real statement of intent from Julen Lopetegui. It was suggested that West Ham were prepared to pay in excess of £29 million for Todibo up front – something that Juventus can’t do.
He’s incredibly powerful in the air, quick along the ground, is a great tackler and reads the game superbly well. At 24, the Frenchman has at least 10 years left ahead of him playing at the highest level, and the partnership he would form with Max Kilman would be a fearsome one.
Since leaving Barcelona to join Nice, Todibo has been one of the best and most consistent central defenders on the continent. He is the centre-back I want most at the London Stadium this summer, so do we really still have a chance of changing his mind and signing him ahead of Juventus?
It was only yesterday when it was suggested that the Todibo to Juventus deal was all but done and dusted (Fabrizio Romano).
It seems as though there has been a big twist overnight though. According to Corriere dello Sport (print edition August 8th, page 16), West Ham are still well in the race to sign him.
The 24-year-old is said to be keen to join Juventus immediately, but the Old Lady face a big problem. The Italian giants are prepared to sign Todibo on loan, with an option to buy him next summer for £26 million.
However, West Ham are ready to sign him ‘outright’ this summer, without taking him on loan first for 12 months. That deal obviously appeals more to Nice than it does the France international.
The Ligue 1 outfit are said to be demanding around £40 million for the former Barcelona centre-back (Yahoo). Whilst they may not get that amount, I’m sure they could convince West Ham to cough up more than £30 million for him.
It feels surreal that little old West Ham are financially outmuscling the European giants that are Juventus! However, the bottom line remains the same, and that is that Jean-Clair Todibo will obviously not join West Ham if he doesn’t want to.
That said, if Nice continue to reject the offers for the 24-year-old from Juventus, he won’t be moving to Turin, it really is as simple as that. It will be really interesting to see how this one plays out. Who will win out in the end – player or club? That remains to be seen.
