Report: Everton and Leicester bid for £23m man Matthaus called ‘the best I’ve seen’

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Jean-Clair Todibo has received offers from Leicester City and Everton although Barcelona are demanding £23 million for the Frenchman, according to Mundo Deportivo.

With Gerard Pique turning 34 before the end of this season, Samuel Umtiti out of favour and Clement Lenglet as rash as ever, you would be forgiven for assuming Barca would be willing to hand a chance to one of Europe’s most impressive young central defenders.

Especially when you consider that new coach Ronald Koeman has clattered through the doors of the Camp Nou to inject some youthful spark into a galaxy of fading stars.

20-year-old Todibo has returned to Catalonia after rising above the chaos at Schalke during a loan spell in the Bundesliga and, less than a year ago, marshalled Romelu Lukaku out of the game during a Champions League clash with Inter Milan.

But with cash-strapped Barca desperate to raise funds in order to finance some much-needed new signings, Todibo may be sacrificed.

Mundo Deportivo suggests that £23 million could be enough to land the one-time Toulouse wonder-kid, who was passed over as a teenager by Manchester United.

Leicester and Everton have spent the whole summer scouring the market for central defenders but, with just over three weeks remaining until the window slammed shut, neither has achieved their aims thus far.

“Todibo is the best centre back I’ve seen in a long time,” Germany legend Lothar Matthaus told Sport after that eye-catching display against Inter.

“At 20, he is incredibly calm, he always finds interesting solutions.”