According to SPORT, Barcelona defender Jean-Clair Todibo is ‘likely’ to make a move to the Premier League amid links to Everton.
It’s stated that the Toffees have made an offer worth €22million plus add-ons. That’s around £19.5million as Everton look to seal a deal.
The French defender has spent the second half of the season on loan at Schalke. The German club have held a purchase clause in the deal, but that no longer exists.
On Monday, sporting director Jochen Schneider told WAZ that the purchase option on Todibo expired on Monday, so their clause no longer exists,
“We no longer have an option to buy on Todibo, the deadline passed yesterday,” said Schneider, in news that may please Everton.
That clause was valued at €25million (£22.5million), meaning Everton’s offer is just short of that price. Whether Barcelona want to drop the fee remains to be seen.
Todibo, 20, has been touted for a huge future since impressing at Toulouse. He hasn’t really been given the chance to show his quality at Barca, and could now move on.
The new reports and Schneider’s comments should be a big boost for Everton. They’re searching for a new centre back under Carlo Ancelotti, and having failed to land Lille’s Gabriel, Todibo could emerge as the top target.
The global pandemic will have hit Everton’s budget, so don’t expect them to go much higher than £20million for Todibo if their original bid is true.
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