Report: £23m Everton and Wolves target decides to leave; told he wouldn’t be a starter

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Reported Everton, Wolves and Leicester City target Jean-Clair Todibo has his heart set on leaving Barcelona this summer after being told that he would be a squad player at best at the Camp Nou, according to France Football.

Germany legend and 1990 Ballon D’Or winner Lothar Matthaus might have described this fresh-faced Frenchman as ‘the best centre-back I’ve seen in a long time’, but there is a nagging feeling that Todibo’s talents continue to go unappreciated in Catalonia.

Just a month after that historic 8-2 thumping at Bayern Munich which laid bare their defensive deficiencies, Barca have opened the door for one of the most exciting young defenders in European football to walk out.

According to reports from across the Channel, Todibo wanted reassurances over his first-team role in Ronald Koeman’s plans.

But, after being told that he will be a rotation player rather than a starter, a man who spent the second half of last season on loan at Schalke has decided that his immediate future lies elsewhere, with a place in Didier Deschamps’ France squad up for grabs.

Everton, Leicester and Wolves are allegedly interested.

Cash-strapped Barcelona would allow Todibo to leave on loan again, although you’d imagine that the Spanish giants would rather boost their drained coffers with a £23 million sale.

Technically gifted, commanding and blessed with supreme self confidence when in possession, Todibo could be the man who makes Carlo Ancelotti’s dream come true.

The Everton boss told Reuters that he wants a new central defender through the door before the transfer window slams shut after injuries to Mason Holgate and Jarrad Branthwaite.