Arsenal scouting France international who will be on sale in the summer

Add as preferred source on Google

Arsenal have been named amongst the clubs to have shown an interest in Jean-Clair Todibo.

According to 90min, French outfit Nice have accepted that centre-back Jean-Clair Todibo is likely to leave the club in the near future, and are now prepared to sell him in the summer of 2024. Arsenal, Chelsea, and Newcastle United have all now scouted the defender, and there is plenty of tentative interest from elsewhere.

Todibo has been a key player for Nice since joining the club, initially on loan from Barcelona, in the January transfer window of 2021. The 23-year-old has established himself as one of the most promising defenders in Ligue 1, and earned his first senior French international cap in September 2023.

The Arsenal target is wary of leaving Nice, having gotten his career back on track there following his difficult spell at Barcelona. As quoted by the official Ligue 1 website, he has previously said, “I didn’t want to make the wrong choice. I wait for people to present me with full projects…I know what I have at Nice. Why step into the unknown?”

There is a place for Jean-Clair Todibo at Arsenal

A switch to the Emirates Stadium and the Premier League would certainly represent a move into the unknown for Todibo. The player is ready to test himself at that level, though.

Mikel Arteta could probably do with adding another right-footed centre-back to his squad. With Ben White, Takehiro Tomiyasu, and Jurrien Timber all preferred in full-back roles, there is a gap in the squad for someone to come in and compete directly with William Saliba for first team minutes. 

The Gunners may not see Todibo as enough of a priority to make a move for him in January. There are other areas of Arteta’s squad in greater need of attention. He may well be a target that has already been earmarked for the summer, though.

That being said, the north London club look likely to encounter plenty of competition in the race for Todibo’s signature. He certainly wouldn’t come cheap should a bidding war for his services break out.