Club now prepared to sell 23-year-old defender Chelsea have been scouting

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Chelsea could have the opportunity to sign Nice defender Jean-Clair Todibo next year.

According to 90min, Nice have told Jean-Clair Todibo that they are prepared to sell him in 2024 but want to keep hold of his services until the end of the season.

The same outlet has also claimed that Chelsea have sent scouts to go watch the 23-year-old centre-back this term.

The Blues signed Axel Disasi in the last transfer window, while Levi Colwill returned from his loan at Brighton & Hove Albion. However, it does not look like that will stop them from signing a new central defender next year.

If Chelsea go on to sell Trevoh Chalobah, one of their other centre-back options, it could make room for an arrival.

Jean-Clair Todibo to replace Thiago Silva?

Todibo would probably be more of a replacement for Silva than Chalobah if he does join Chelsea next summer.

Chalobah is not playing right now because of injury and has never really been a key player at Stamford Bridge, whereas Silva is an ever-present. The Brazilian has started in all 10 of the Blues’ Premier League games this season.

His contract expires at the end of the campaign, so he could be departing west London soon. So it does look like Todibo could come in and replace the 39-year-old.

It would see Chelsea’s French contingent grow, with the club already possessing Disasi, Benoit Badiashile, Wesley Fofana, Malo Gusto, Christopher Nkunku and Lesley Ugochukwu.

Disasi, Badiashile and Fofana are also all Frenchman who have played in Ligue 1 before, so Chelsea clearly feel centre-halves from that division are a good fit for the Premier League.

It will now be interesting to see if Todibo will be the next defender with Ligue 1 experience who ends up joining Mauricio Pochettino’s side, which does not seem impossible, as Silva’s contract continues to run down.