According to reports, Manchester United manager Erik ten Hag is looking to add a center-back to his team this summer and is considering making a move for Nice defender Jean-Clair Todibo.

What has happened since Todibo joined Manchester United?
The 23-year-old is reportedly being watched by Manchester United, along with Monaco’s Axel Disasi, as the Premier League’s powerhouses plan alternatives to Kim Min-jae, who is wanted by Bayern Munich, according to journalist Fabrizio Romano.

“Axel Disasi remains a concrete name on the list at Manchester United in case Kim Min-jae will ultimately join Bayern as expected,” the transfer insider wrote on Twitter. “Next week will be crucial for Kim deal.”

There hasn’t been a decision made yet, but Manchester United also sent scouts to follow Jean Clair Todibo on several occasions.

According to reports in Spain (via Football365), the cost of signing the 6 foot 3 Frenchman, who has four years left on his current contract, could be in the neighbourhood of £26 million for United.

What does Jean-Clair Todibo do?
Jacek Kulig, a talent scout, dubbed the former Barcelona player the “French Wall.” The player joined his current team back in 2021 and was hailed as the “French Wall.” Ten Hag’s squad may replace club captain Harry Maguire next season as the England international has recently been linked to leaving the club.

The £80 million player was described as a “walking disaster” by journalist Samuel Luckhurst during the 2021–2022 season, and he continued those struggles last season, having noticeably fallen down the pecking order after being limited to just eight Premier League starts.

Even though the 30-year-old seems to want to stay put, a departure is likely in the best interests of all parties. Ten Hag may well speed up the former Leicester City player’s departure by bringing Todibo into the fold in the coming weeks and months.

The former Toulouse starlet would not only be a better long-term choice given his relative youth, but he would also appear to be a much better asset in the short term due to his superior qualities both in and out of possession.

While Todibo ranks in the top 12% and top 20% for those same two metrics, respectively, Maguire ranks in the bottom 47% and top 48% for progressive passes, indicating that he is somewhat of a liability when playing out from the back, as evidenced by his clumsy error in the loss away to Sevilla.

The latter player also seems to provide a more ball-winning presence than the current United captain, as he ranks in the top 8% for tackles made, compared to Maguire’s position in just the bottom 15%.

With Todibo coming off a season in which he started 33 Ligue 1 games and averaged 3.4 tackles and interceptions combined per game, the towering gem may well aim to replicate that stellar form at Old Trafford, allowing Ten Hag to finally fire his club captain.