Chelsea & Man Utd sent Jean-Clair Todibo transfer warning by Nice director
- Todibo has plenty of suitors after excelling in Ligue 1 with Nice
- INEOS, owners of the French side, are set to take control at Man Utd
- Tottenham also keen before Radu Dragusin signing
By Tom Gott
Nice sporting director Florent Ghisolfi has warned suitors of centre-back Jean-Clair Todibo that the French international is not for sale this month.
The 24-year-old has established himself as one of Ligue 1's premier defenders at the heart of a Nice side that has conceded just 11 goals in 18 games so far this season, and a number of Premier League sides are keen on striking a deal.
Manchester United, whose incoming owners INEOS also own Nice, are long-term admirers of Todibo, while Chelsea have looked at the Frenchman on their search for a new defender. Tottenham Hotspur also held talks before turning to Radu Dragusin.
Spurs turned away from Todibo amid concerns over Nice's willingness to sell, and Ghisolfi has now publicly warned any suitors that they face an uphill battle.
"As we’ve said since the offset, we are working on stability, and stability is keeping your best players," Ghisolfi said about the futures of both Todibo and former Liverpool target Khephren Thuram.
"Jean-Clair and Thuram are definitely that, as players and as leaders as they are vice-captains. We absolutely want to keep them."
United are expected to pursue a new defender in the summer and will boast a clear advantage in the race for Todibo's signature once Sir Jim Ratcliffe's minority takeover is finalised.
However, the likes of Barcelona's Ronald Araujo, Benfica's Antonio Silva and Sporting CP's Goncalo Inacio are all under consideration by United, who will only finalise their plans to sign a new defender once their new recruitment team is in place.
As for Chelsea, the Blues are believed to be in the market for defensive reinforcements this month but much could hinge on the futures of Trevoh Chalobah, Malang Sarr and 39-year-old Thiago Silva, whose contract will expire in the summer.
Reports have named Sporting CP's Ousmane Diomande as a target for Chelsea, while 90min revealed in November that Crystal Palace's Marc Guehi, a graduate of the Blues' Cobham academy, has also been watched.
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