Manchester United and Chelsea have both made enquiries about signing Nice defender Jean-Clair Todibo, according to RMC Sport.
The radio station claim that the France international is “seen as a real option” by the two Premier League teams.
Todibo has also been linked with Tottenham in recent weeks but the London club are said to have moved on to other targets.
RMC Sport say that Spurs could return if the the 23-year-old is still available in the summer but, for the time being, United are set to fight it out with Chelsea and, potentially, AC Milan for the player.
Nice are reluctant to sell Todibo this month
At this moment in time, the Ligue One side are only expected to offload the centre-back if they receive an “impossible-to-refuse offer”.
In terms of how much that would be, The Athletic journalist Jack Pitt-Brooke has already said that Nice are looking for “£50m or £60m”. Such a price tag might make it difficult for United to negotiate a transfer this month.
Have United looked at other centre-halves?
With strengthening the middle of defence believed to be a top priority for the January transfer window, the Red Devils have also considered alternatives to Todibo.
Erik ten Hag’s side are known to have scouted Benfica’s Antonio Silva, Sporting Lisbon’s Goncalo Inacio and Bayer Leverkusen’s Edmond Tapsoba. However, deals for those players could end up being just as expensive.
Lille’s Leny Yoro and Atalanta’s Giorgio Scalvini have also been mentioned as options if the club are seeking younger alternatives but it will be a challenge to get any of these deals done in January. If Todibo is the No.1 target, United may remain patient and decide to wait until the summer to make their move instead.
