Man Utd rocked as Liverpool emerge as favourites to sign top target

Tom Weber

• Updated: 12 Jan 2024 12:39 GMT
• 3 min read

Liverpool have emerged as the favourites to sign Jean-Clair Todibo, according to French media.

The Nice centre-back has marshalled Ligue 1's best defence so far this season and firmly established himself as one of Europe's best centre-backs after already attracting plenty of attention last term. Indeed, the former Barcelona youngster was heavily linked with a move to the Premier League in the summer, but nothing ultimately materialised.

Manchester United were hot on his tail then and still are now, especially after the acquisition of a minority stake by Sir Jim Ratcliffe, whose INEOS group also owns Nice. Todibo's path to the Premier League appeared to have been all but arranged, with the France international heading to Old Trafford in the summer to finally solve Erik ten Hag's centre-back problem.

However, it seems things won't be quite as straightforward as Todibo is also an attractive option to Premier League rivals.

Todibo eyed by Liverpool

After links with Chelsea were shot down by Fabrizio Romano, it seems that it is now the turn of the Red Devils' great rivals Liverpool to be associated with Todibo. It is far from unsurprising, though.

FootballTransfers reported extensively on the Reds interest in Todibo's teammate Khephren Thuram in 2023, so it seems only natural that the defender also caught their eye during their scouting missions.

In fact, local paper Nice-Matin has now claimed that the star centre-back is closer to a switch to Liverpool than Man Utd. In addition to the more stable environment, Ibrahima Konate is said to be something of an ace up Jurgen Klopp's sleeve as he is good friends with Todibo.

The Frenchman would come in to eventually replace the ageing Virgil van Dijk, though a January move is unrealistic given his €60 million price tag. Todibo is happy on the French Riviera and Nice are in a battle for Champions League football and - potentially - even the title as they currently sit five points behind PSG.