Highly-rated 24-year-old French Newcastle target valued at £40m ahead of summer transfer window

Newcastle United are now aware that OGC Nice defender Jean-Clair Todibo has been valued at £40million ahead of the summer transfer window.

Todibo has impressed under Nice head coach Francesco Farioli this season, and has been on Newcastle boss Eddie Howe's radar since last summer.

The French international has played 25 games in all competitions this season with Nice fifth in a tight Ligue 1 table.

In January, CaughtOffside reported that Newcastle were "free to sign" Todibo, but a move never materialised, most likely due to our FFP restrictions.

Now, Fabrizio Romano has reported that Todibo will be available to clubs for £40m this summer. Manchester United, along with other Premier League clubs, one thought to be Newcastle will begin negotiations at the end of the season.

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Chances of signing Todibo are unfortunately slim. As I previously mentioned, Man United have had him on their list since last summer.

The Red Devils new shareholder Sir Jim Ratcliffe's company INEOS are in charge at Nice so Man United will most likely get priority to get Todibo to put pen to paper.

Alas, Howe will most likely still go in for him in summer. The addition of a central defender is vital for Newcastle now Sven Botman could be out until the end of the year due to an ACL injury.

Todibo is tipped to be included in France's Euro 2024 squad in summer, a massive chance to impress those interested in him.

£40m should be considered a steal for a player of Todibo's quality, a player who loves to ping a ball and gets stuck into a tackle. Should his performances at the Euros be impressive, surely many clubs will be purring even more for his signature.

Todibo is no stranger to a big club either. Before joining Nice, he came through the academy at Toulouse before signing for Barcelona in 2018, he had a stint at Schalke before joining Nice in 2020.