Varane Man Utd's secret weapon to land Ten Hag's top priority
Robin Bairner
- 24 Aug 2023 12:43 BST
- 3 min read
Manchester United still hope to land Nice defender Jean-Clair Todibo this summer, with the 23-year-old having previously appeared on the Red Devils’ radar.
All the indications suggest that Todibo is willing to move to Old Trafford if a deal can be agreed between the clubs.
As has been the case throughout a frustrating summer for Man Utd manager Erik ten Hag, raising funds to complete the transfers he wants could prove the sticking point.
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Sofyan Amrabat’s move from Fiorentina to Old Trafford has been in a holding pattern for weeks and is further complicated by a recent injury to Mason Mount, which makes his arrival all the more imperative. Meanwhile, Ten Hag needs another defender, with Todibo earmarked as the priority now Benjamin Pavard is staying with Bayern Munich.
Offloading fringe players has been complicated for Man Utd all summer and has stymied many of their ambitions and may yet block a deal for Todibo – yet the opportunity to play with Raphael Varane is something that the young defender is unlikely to willingly pass up.
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Speaking after being involved in the France team in March, Todibo explained his admiration for Varane.
“For the coach to have a clear idea of my personality, I have to be as natural as possible. My journey, I've known it for a while and I've lived it, with good periods and a little less good. I only think about performing and bringing as much as possible to the group,” he told the media.
"I am inspired by Thiago Silva and [Virgil] Van Dijk, they are the ones I watch the most. I was also inspired by Varane. I am under contract with Nice until 2027. I don't know if the right choice would be to go elsewhere.
"This is not the time to think about it. I am much more serene at this level with the experiences, if I have to make a choice I will do it with a lot of thought.”
Man Utd back in for Todibo
This is not the first time that Man Utd have chased Todibo.
When the player was with Barcelona four years ago, he was coveted by Ole Gunnar Solskjaer at the time but no deal materialised.
Instead, Todibo went to Nice on loan before joining permanently, but the transfer loop could go full circle if Ten Hag is successful with this summer capture.
