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Chelsea target Jean-Clair Todibo has been told by his club Nice that they are prepared to sell him in 2024. The Blues have identified the French centre-back as a potential option to replace Thiago Silva this coming summer.
Silva, 39, remains one of the Premier League’s best defenders but is into his twilight years and his contract at Stamford Bridge expires at the end of the season. He admitted recently: “I’m just focused on enjoying my final year of contract at Chelsea. I don’t know what’s gonna happen next year.”
With Trevoh Chalobah’s Chelsea career coming to a close, the Londoners will only have Wesley Fofana, Benoit Badiashile, Axel Disasi and Levi Colwill as senior centre-half options if Silva departs. Even then, Fofana is spending the next few months recovering from knee ligament surgery and there is no guarantee he will be back to his best by the start of 2024-25.
And Todibo, a potential option to take Brazil great Silva’s spot in the squad, has been informed by his club that he will be allowed to leave next year. The former Barcelona player has enjoyed a successful two-and-a-bit seasons on the French Riviera since joining from the La Liga giants.
The 23-year-old is admired by Manchester United and Newcastle as well as Chelsea, with Todibo lined up by the Red Devils a few months ago before Harry Maguire’s proposed move to West Ham fell through. Now, 90min report that Nice will allow Todibo to leave in 2024 with a January exit even possible.
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Whether Nice allow the one-cap France international to leave mid-season depends on their standing in the Ligue 1 table, it is claimed. They sit top of the table, a point clear of Paris Saint-Germain after staying unbeaten in their first 11 matches.
They have conceded just four goals in that time with Todibo a crucial part of the backline next to captain Dante. If Nice are still going strongly by January, they will ask the defender to see out the remainder of the season at the Allianz Riviera.
Chelsea have regularly scouted the right-footed Todibo who plays on the right-hand side of the centre-back partnership like Silva. While he is under contract at Nice until 2027, the French club are willing to do a deal in the New Year to maximise their financial return for the player.
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It is not mentioned how much it will take to sign him though a price tag of around £35million has been mooted previously. That represents a reasonable figure for a defender who has been one of the best in Ligue 1 in recent seasons.
Silva and Levi Colwill have been Chelsea’s centre-back duo for the last two Premier League matches. Before that, Colwill was moved to left-back with Disasi the right-sided central defender. Todibo’s fellow Frenchman, bought from Monaco last summer, started at right back against Brentford last time out.
Disasi, Fofana and Badiashile have all arrived at Chelsea in the last two summer transfer windows. Englishman Colwill, 20, has also been blooded into Pochettino’s first team this season after a loan spell at Brighton last year.
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