Arsenal will now challenge Liverpool and Manchester United in the summer transfer window to sign an in-demand defender as Mikel Arteta has identified his top target.
The north London outfit have produced an imperious defensive record so far this season. Yet Arteta wants Arsenal to sign another centre-back in the summer who can add depth to a key position. William Saliba and Gabriel Magalhaes have been near ever-presents of his defence.
Saliba is the only player to start all 36 of Arsenal’s Premier League games so far this term. He has also played the most minutes at Emirates Stadium with 3,240, while Gabriel ranks fourth with 2,895. Gabriel has started 32 of his 34 outings with Ben White seldom playing centrally.
Arsenal mark OGC Nice star Jean-Clair Todibo as their top defensive transfer target
Arsenal have kept 17 clean sheets in the Premier League this season and have conceded the fewest goals with 28. The Gunners have also not conceded a goal with Gabriel on the field in 17 matches, having made one of his cameos after they conceded against Nottingham Forest.
Yet Arsenal now want to deepen their backline by rivalling Liverpool and Manchester United for a transfer for OGC Nice ace Jean-Clair Todibo. That is according to London World, which reports that Todibo plus AFC Ajax gem Jorrel Hato top Arsenal’s defensive transfer shortlist.
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Liverpool and Manchester United will be fierce competition for Todibo, who several Premier League sides admire. The 24-year-old is drawing interest from across the English top-flight after helping Nice to register Ligue 1’s best defence with 25 goals conceded in 31 games yet.
Now, his efforts could merit Todibo a transfer to Arsenal, Liverpool or Manchester United as the two-cap France star wants to leave Nice this summer. He has been at the Allianz Riviera since February 2021 after joining on loan from FC Barcelona and staying come that summer.
OGC Nice value Jean-Clair Todibo at £40m
Nice have produced a firm defence despite only sitting fifth in France’s top-flight with three games remaining of their season. Todibo has featured in 27 of their 31 games and started in each of his outings, having missed two through injury and two through suspension, to date.
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Nice have Todibo under contract through June 2027, though, after he extended his terms in November 2022. But talkSPORT reports that Les Aiglons could consider selling the defender for £40m amid interest from Manchester United and Tottenham Hotspur in Todibo’s talents.
The Red Devils and Spurs have their eyes on Todibo as they bid for defensive depth through a 6 ft 2 brute. Arsenal hero Aaron Ramsey has even backed Todibo to reach the very top of the game after playing with the defender at the Allianz Riviera through the 2022/23 season.
“Jean-Clair is a very interesting character,” Ramsey said, via quotes by Get French Football News. “He’s very confident and he’s a great guy around the dressing room and he’s a very, very talented player, who can go all the way to the top.
“For him, it is important to keep his feet on the ground, strive for more, and take in as much information as possible.”