Sir Jim Ratcliffe could block Tottenham's move to sign Manchester United target Jean-Clair Todibo, despite the player being keen on joining Spurs.
Todibo, 23, is enjoying another impressive season with French side Nice, who are majority owned by Ratcliffe's company, INEOS. Although an announcement is yet to be made, INEOS have agreed a £1.3billion deal with the Glazer family to acquire a 25 per cent stake in United which will see Ratcliffe and his colleagues take control of the club's football operations.
The Red Devils were first linked with Todibo long before the agreement was reached - going as far back as during Ole Gunnar Solskjaer's reign while the 23-year-old was still attempting to make the grade at Barcelona - although it now appears that Tottenham have jumped ahead in the queue. According to the Mail, Spurs have held talks over a £35million deal to sign the French defender, who's said to be keen on a move to North London.
Tottenham manager Ange Postecoglou wants to recruit a new centre-back in the January transfer window, with Eric Dier entering the final six months of his contract, new signings Micky van de Ven and Ashley Phillips injured, and Cristian Romero constantly putting himself at risk of suspension with his gung-ho approach.
Todibo has emerged on Postecoglou's radar thanks to his solid performances for Nice, who remain second in the Ligue 1 table behind Paris Saint-Germain. The south-coast side have conceded the least goals in the French top flight, shipping just nine, and their France international centre-back has been instrumental.
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Nice will be desperate to keep hold of Todibo in January, as they bid to keep on PSG's tails and qualify for the Champions League, although Ratcliffe would have the ability to block any deal with Tottenham. That would in-turn hand United a boost, with the Red Devils planning to sign a new centre-back next summer.
Jean-Clair Todibo's contract with Nice expires in 2027 (ric Verhoeven/Soccrates/Getty Images)Get involved! Who should Jean-Clair Todibo join - Man Utd or Tottenham? Give us your choice in the comments section.
Defender Raphael Varane's contract is set to expire next June and boss Erik ten Hag could replace him with Todibo, who idolised the former Real Madrid stalwart growing up. "I am inspired by Thiago Silva and [Virgil] Van Dijk, they are the ones I watch the most," Todibo revealed earlier this year.
"I was also inspired by Varane. I am under contract with Nice until 2027. I don't know if the right choice would be to go elsewhere. This is not the time to think about it. I am much more serene at this level with the experiences, if I have to make a choice I will do it with a lot of thought."
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