CHELSEA are now competing alongside Manchester United to sign Nice defender Jean-Clair Todibo, a report claims.
But Premier League rivals Tottenham have pulled out of the race to sign the French centre-back.
Chelsea join Manchester United in the race to sign Nice’s Jean-Clair Todibo
GettyTottenham have pulled out of their efforts to sign centre-back Todibo[/caption]
Chelsea are desperate to recruit a new centre-back as Mauricio Pochettino is looking to bolster his defensive options amid the club’s injury crisis.
Wesley Fofana and Trevoh Chalobah are both currently sidelined, while full-backs Reece James, Marc Cucurella and Ben Chilwell are all out of action with injuries.
According to reporter Fabrizio Romano, the Blues join Man Utd in the race to sign 23-year-old Todibo.
But the two clubs will no longer have to face Tottenham as the report claims the deal has “collapsed” between the North London club and the Ligue 1 star.
Tottenham tried to grab the two-cap France international but they could not agree on a move and are now forced to look elsewhere.
Spurs were desperate to sign Todibo this month as they needed a centre-back after Cristian Romero‘s Christmas Eve injury blow.
The transfer guru confirmed Ange Postecoglou‘s side may have already moved on as they have agreed on “personal terms to sign Genoa centre-back Radu Dragusin”.
Meanwhile, Todibo is valued at £35m with his contract set to expire in 2027, having arrived at Nice from Barcelona in 2021.
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He has started fourteen games this term having also made 46 appearances last season for Nice across all competitions.
With Sir Jim Ratcliffe‘s recent 25 per cent takeover of United, he is keen on finding new stars to help Erik ten Hag‘s struggling side.
And his other football investment Nice, which is owned by his company INEOS, could swiftly line United up with Todibo’s signature.