Man Utd dealt blow in their pursuit of 24-year-old star despite close ties with his club

Manchester United have been linked with a move for the French defender Jean Clair-Todibo in recent months.

According to a report from Football Insider, senior figures from OGC Nice are now prepared to block his move to Old Trafford.

Initially, it was expected that Manchester United’s ties with the French club because of their shared ownership under Jim Ratcliffe and INEOS would benefit them in their pursuit of the French defender. However, Nice are desperate to hold onto their key player and it remains to be seen whether Manchester United can convince them to sell the player.

Todibo has been a key player for Nice and his departure would weaken their defence significantly. However, the opportunity to move to the Premier League can be quite tempting for the 24-year-old and it remains to be seen whether he decides to push for a move.

Jean-Clair Todibo would improve Man United

It is no secret that Manchester United need defensive reinforcements at the end of the season and signing a quality central defender should be a top priority for them. The likes of Harry Maguire have not been at their best and they will need to replace Jonny Evans as well.

Todibo could form a quality partnership with Lisandro Martinez at the heart of the Manchester United defence next season.

Meanwhile, the report claims that Everton defender Jarrad Branthwaite is also on their transfer wishlist. The Everton defender has established himself as a key player for the Toffees, and he is certainly one of the finest young defensive prospects in the league. It will be interesting to see if Manchester United can convince Everton to sell the player in the coming months.