Man Utd and Chelsea get key updates as Tottenham’s defender search continues

Robin Bairner

• 26 Dec 2023 15:12 CST
• 3 min read

Tottenham’s pursuit of a centre-back in the January transfer window is destined to have a knock-on effect on the plans of Manchester United and Chelsea.

On Tottenham’s transfer shortlist for January are Jean-Clair Todibo, who is a transfer target for Man Utd, and Chelsea defender Trevoh Chalobah.

They are far from the only players that Spurs are tracking ahead of the transfer period, with Ben Jacobs giving an update on a transfer saga that will impact all three Premier League giants.

Todibo is Tottenham’s “priority” but Jacobs indicates that Spurs are presently pessimistic over a deal after opening talks.

This should come as little surprise. Man Utd are also prominent in the chase for the France international and have just announced a 25% takeover by Sir Jim Ratcliffe, who owns Nice, the club that Todibo plays for in Ligue 1. It is only natural that the Old Trafford side are hot favourites to land the centre-back.

Although it has not been confirmed, Man Utd should not be red-hot favourites to land Todibo.

Tottenham’s defensive options

Chelsea have also been handed a key update with the news that Chalobah has fallen down Tottenham’s list, Jacobs reports.

There remains, however, a significant chance that the 24-year-old will leave in January. Chalobah has also been linked with a move to Jose Mourinho’s Roma, but Tottenham’s other centre-back targets also appear to be growing increasingly distance.

FootballTransfers exclusively revealed that Spurs are interested in Genoa central defender Radu Dragusin but he is close to agreeing a new contract with the Serie A side.

Furthermore, Goncalo Inacio, who has been linked to a string of major clubs, is still a significant target who has been discussed internally, but his transfer fee is expected to be too great for Tottenham to afford.

A large January budget is not expected to be made available for Ange Postecoglou after nearly €250 million was sent in the summer.