Burkina Faso
Czech Republic
Indonesia
Lithuania
Montenegro
Nigeria
North Macedonia

Manchester United 'cool interest in Everton man, prioritising £40m alternative'

sportsmole.co.uk, 17 April 2024, 15:44
Manchester United have reportedly cooled their interest in Everton centre-back Jarrad Branthwaite and are instead stepping up their attempts to sign Jean-Clair Todibo from Nice.

The Red Devils were heavily linked with Todibo towards the end of last summer's transfer window, but a deal would only have been possible if Harry Maguire had moved on, and the England international rejected interest from West Ham United to remain at Old Trafford.

There will be at least one centre-back acquisition at Man United this summer, but it is likely that two will arrive, as Raphael Varane and Jonny Evans are both out of contract, while there is uncertainty surrounding the futures of Maguire and Victor Lindelof.

Branthwaite has been linked with a switch to Old Trafford, but there have been suggestions that the Everton defender could cost as much as £80m.

According to TEAMtalk, Man United are currently pursuing a deal for Todibo, with the Frenchman potentially costing £40m during this summer's transfer window.

Man United 'looking to bring Todibo to Old Trafford'

The report claims that the English club's interest is 'very, very serious', and there have already been 'numerous conversations' between the two parties over a possible move to Old Trafford.

Any potential move to the 20-time English champions this summer would be complicated by the fact that Sir Jim Ratcliffe's INEOS company own Nice and have now invested in Man United.

Todibo has made 27 appearances for Nice during the 2023-24 campaign, including 24 outings in Ligue 1, with Francesco Farioli's side sitting fifth in the table, five points off fourth-placed Lille.

The Frenchman started his professional career at Toulouse before moving to Barcelona in 2019, but he failed to make his mark at Camp Nou, only featuring on five occasions.

Todibo had loan spells at Schalke 04, Benfica and Nice while contracted to Barcelona, before completing a permanent move to his current side in 2021.

Should Man United move for Todibo over Branthwaite?

There is no question that Branthwaite is a huge talent, and he has been impressive for Everton this season, but if the Toffees manage to stay up, the club are likely to demand a huge fee.

There has been talk of £80m being the centre-back's valuation, which is simply not realistic for Man United this summer, as the Red Devils also need a central midfielder and a centre-forward, while there is an argument that both a right-back and a left-back will need to be signed.

At £40m, Todibo would be a sound investment considering his potential and the experience that he has already picked up in the relatively early stages of his career.

It did not happen for the Frenchman at Barcelona, but he has developed into an impressive centre-back at Nice and could now be ready to make the step up to a major club.

Show more

Top News

18 March 2025 sportsmole.co.uk With a place in League B of the UEFA Nations League up for grabs, Slovakia will host Slovenia in the first leg of their playoff tie on Thursday at Stadion Tehelne pole. 18 March 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Manchester City expert Steven McInerney from Esteemed Kompany hopes that Phil Foden can play himself back into form under new England head coach Thomas Tuchel having previously endured 'poor stints' at international level. 18 March 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Chelsea attacker Omari Kellyman has confirmed his season is over following his latest injury setback. 18 March 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Liverpool are reportedly interested in four Bundesliga stars ahead of the summer transfer window. 18 March 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Arsenal Women have been left with a mountain to climb in the Women's Champions League owing to a 2-0 loss to Real Madrid in the first leg of their quarter-final tie. 18 March 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Manchester United midfielder Christian Eriksen has admitted he expects to leave Old Trafford at the end of the season. 18 March 2025 talksport.com Morgan Gibbs-White has revealed his reaction to receiving a late England call-up from Thomas Tuchel. 18 March 2025 talksport.com Jeremie Frimpong has fuelled speculation over a summer move to Liverpool by greeting Ryan Gravenberch in a scouse accent. 18 March 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Spain head coach Luis de la Fuente has seen three players withdraw from his squad due to injury ahead of Thursday's UEFA Nations League quarter-final first-leg clash with Netherlands at De Kuip in Rotterdam. 18 March 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Netherlands head coach Ronald Koeman has named his 24-man squad ahead of Thursday's UEFA Nations League quarter-final first-leg clash with Spain at De Kuip in Rotterdam. 18 March 2025 sportsmole.co.uk UEFA Nations League holders Spain travel to De Kuip in Rotterdam to face the Netherlands in the first leg of their quarter-final tie on Thursday night. 18 March 2025 talksport.com Al Nassr are plotting a stunning move to sign Gabriel Magalhaes this summer, talkSPORT understands. 18 March 2025 talksport.com A trio of England under-21 players joined Thomas Tuchel's training session on Tuesday. 18 March 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Chelsea have confirmed that Cole Palmer has returned from the England squad to undergo further assessment on the injury he sustained before Sunday's 1-0 loss to Arsenal. 18 March 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Continuing their quest for a first UEFA Nations League crown, Italy will welcome familiar foes Germany to San Siro on Thursday evening, as the pair play out the first leg of an enticing quarter-final tie. 18 March 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Arsenal fans may have to wait until next season to see the best of Bukayo Saka ahead of his imminent return from hamstring surgery, Gunners expert Charles Watts believes. 18 March 2025 talksport.com Jean-Philippe Mateta injury was so severe his plastic surgeon refused to show him pictures of his ear. 18 March 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Ultimately aiming to claim a first UEFA Nations League title, Germany will kick off their quarter-final clash with old foes Italy on Thursday. 18 March 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Former Liverpool striker Emile Heskey has suggested that Darwin Nunez could still have a future at Anfield, but not as Arne Slot's starting number nine. 18 March 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Armenia host neighbours Georgia in Yerevan on Thursday evening, as the two nations fight for the right to play in league B of the UEFA Nations League. 18 March 2025 talksport.com Liverpool are ready to consider offers for striker Darwin Nunez, talkSPORT understands. 18 March 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Austria host Serbia on Thursday evening, looking to gain an advantage in their two-legged playoff for the right to play in Group A of the UEFA Nations League. 18 March 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Seeking a place in the UEFA Nations League semi-finals, European heavyweights Italy and Germany will convene at San Siro on Thursday, for the first leg of their quarter-final tie. 18 March 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Luka Modric has reportedly decided whether he intends to remain at Real Madrid past the end of the season. 18 March 2025 talksport.com Leicester player Hamza Choudhury was mobbed by fans after arriving for his first senior international call-up. 18 March 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Chelsea winger Mykhaylo Mudryk is allegedly the subject of surprise interest from a Bundesliga club. 18 March 2025 talksport.com A brand-new competition will be taking place this summer, with some of the world's biggest clubs eyeing glory in the USA. 18 March 2025 talksport.com Ola Aina had a hilarious response to discovering he would be sharing a bed with Alex Iwobi on international duty. 18 March 2025 talksport.com Arsenal have added Carabao Cup winning Newcastle midfielder Bruno Guimaraes to their list of summer transfer targets, talkSPORT understands. 18 March 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Vying for a place in the UEFA Nations League's top tier, Scotland and Greece will meet for the first leg of their promotion/relegation playoff on Thursday.