Chelsea and Manchester United could be about to get into a transfer tussle for one central defender.
Chelsea appear to be in the market for a new centre-back after deciding not to renew Thiago Silva’s contract.
Silva’s existing deal expires next month and he is now set to join Fluminense on a free transfer.
Fulham’s Tosin Adarabioyo has been linked with a move to the Blues, but he does not appear to be the only centre-half who Chelsea are interested in.
Like Silva, Adarabioyo has also reached the end of his contract so will not cost his next club anything.
Chelsea and Manchester United could be set for transfer battle
Chelsea beat United to a top-six finish this season, though Erik ten Hag’s side still managed to claim the final Europa League spot, at the expense of their rivals, after winning the FA Cup.
They could now find themselves in a battle off the pitch.
According to the Evening Standard, Chelsea and United have both shortlisted Nice’s Jean-Clair Todibo ahead of the summer transfer window.
When Todibo was being linked with a move away back in January, journalist Ben Jacobs claimed on Substack that it would have taken around €60m (£51m) to get him out of Nice.
Why Chelsea could end up signing Jean-Clair Todibo this summer
Ligue 1 appears to be a market that Chelsea like, especially when it comes to defenders.
They signed both Axel Disasi and Benoit Badiashile, two centre-halves, from AS Monaco, and Malo Gusto from Lyon.
Todibo is also a modern-day defender. Over the last year, he has ranked in the 96th percentile for successful take-ons and the 84th for progressive passes among his positional peers (FBref), showing that he is not afraid to pass or bring the ball out of defence.
It could make the Frenchman perfect for a possession-obsessed manager like Enzo Maresca. This season, his Leicester City side were second in the Championship for ball possession, according to WhoScored.
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