Romano drops Todibo bomb on Man Utd and Liverpool

Tom Weber

• Updated: 13 Jan 2024 15:15 GMT
• 3 min read

Fabrizio Romano has dismissed reports that Liverpool are the new favourites in the race to sign Jean-Clair Todibo.

The French defender is one of Europe's hottest properties in the transfer market. Having marshalled what has thus far been Ligue 1's best defence, the 24-year-old has long been associated with a switch to a more elite side.

Wanted by Man Utd in the summer, the Red Devils didn't have the funds to pursue a deal, but the acquisition of a minority stake in the club by Sir Jim Ratcliffe has given them a major ace up their sleeve in the race to sign him. Ratcliffe's INEOS also own Todibo's Nice.

However, on Friday, a stunning report from a local French newspaper claimed that Liverpool had actually emerged as the favourites to land Todibo in the summer. A January move has been all but ruled out given his €60 million price tag and the simple fact that second-placed Nice don't want to sell mid-season.

What did Romano say?

The report of Liverpool supposedly leading the Todibo race was shocking given United's lengthy pursuit and it seems that the assertion was simply too good to be true. That's at least according to transfer expert Fabrizio Romano.

Speaking to CaughtOffside, the Italian doused cold water on the rumour that there is a clear favourite for the Frenchman's signature at this point. “Let me clarify once again, there are no clear favourites for the signature of Jean-Clair Todibo, and the expectation is for him to move in the summer, not now."

“It will take time before we know who the favourite is and what kind of evolution there will be in the next months," Romano continued. "My information remains that OGC Nice don’t want to sell Todibo in January.”