Everton are facing a growing battle to sign Barcelona’s Jean Clair Todibo with Juventus interested. And, according to former Serie A ace Momo Sissoko, the highly-rated defender certainly has the potential to ‘adapt’ to life at a Serie A giant.
Carlo Ancelotti’s pursuit of that much-discussed ‘fourth centre-back’ is proving to be a little more difficult than anyone might have predicted.
A deal for Lille’s Brazilian powerhouse Gabriel Magalhaes felt as good as done six weeks ago but, these days, the Ligue 1 ace looks closer to Napoli than Everton (TMW).
As for Todibo, well, it didn’t take long before Everton found themselves in a battle with one of the biggest and most successful clubs in Europe for the Frenchman’s signature.
The Mail say that the Merseysiders have held talks over a £17.4 million deal that would see another Barcelona benchwarmer swap the Camp Nou for the Gladwys End. But Barca appear to have pulled the rug from under Everton’s feet by offering Todibo to Juventus instead as part of an agreement which would see Miralem Pjanic go in the other direction (Sport).
“Todibo? I read that he is being talked about,” Sissoko, the former Liverpool midfielder who spent three years at Juventus after his Anfield spell, told TuttoJuve.
“He is a good player, who is doing well (on loan) at Schalke 04 and could adapt well to Juventus.”
The avuncular presence of Ancelotti on the Goodison touchline might have opened the door for Everton to target some of the best players on the market. But Todibo, like Gabriel, appears to be slipping through their grasp.
Receive exclusive football transfer news and updates twice a week to your mailbox
