24 August 2023 , 09:46
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Erik ten Hag 's hopes of luring Jean-Clair Todibo to Manchester United before next week's transfer deadline could be boosted by Raphael Varane.
The Dutchman has strengthened the spine of his team after completing deals for Mason Mount, Andre Onana and Rasmus Hojlund but is keen to bring in more new faces before the summer transfer window officially closes next Friday.
While United are understood to be in the market for another central midfielder to sit alongside Casemiro, it is also believed that Ten Hag would like to sign another central defender. And with Benjamin Pavard closing in on a transfer to Inter Milan, Todibo has now emerged as Ten Hag's primary defensive target.
According to French outlet L’Équipe, a £34.1million transfer is close with all parties keen to close a deal before the transfer deadline.
Manchester United's interest in Todibo comes some four years after Ole Gunnar Solskjaer initially targeted the young defender when he was still on the books at Barcelona. After a deal failed to materialise, Todibo ended up at OGC Nice after loan stints elsewhere - but the defender is firmly back on United's radar.
Marcel Sabitzer completes Man Utd transfer after last-minute deadline day dash
Intriguingly, the presence of Varane could help Manchester United land Todibo's signature this time around. The centre-back name-dropped Varane as a player who "inspired" him when he landed his first call-up to the France national team back in March.
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Todibo named Raphael Varane as one of his idols earlier this yearSpeaking at the time, Todibo said: "For the coach to have a clear idea of my personality, I have to be as natural as possible. My journey, I've known it for a while and I've lived it, with good periods and a little less good. I only think about performing and bringing as much as possible to the group.
"I am inspired by Thiago Silva and [Virgil] Van Dijk, they are the ones I watch the most. 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."
With a deal for Todibo reportedly close, it remains to be seen if Harry Maguire will change his stance over leaving Manchester United.
The defender snubbed a move to West Ham earlier this month and is still thought to be keen on fighting for his place at Old Trafford - even though he was stripped of the club captaincy earlier this summer.