Fabrizio Romano confirms Chelsea have scouted former Barcelona defender

Fabrizio Romano reveals Chelsea are scouting Manchester United target Jean-Clair Todibo

Fabrizio Romano reports Chelsea have been scouting Nice centre-back Jean-Clair Todibo, who has attracted plenty of interest.

However, Romano further says that January isn’t on the cards for the West Londoners, but he hasn’t ruled out the next summer transfer. With Thiago Silva’s contract expiring next summer, the club will look for his replacement, and Todibo could be an ideal successor to Silva next season.

But Chelsea face an intense battle for his acquisition, as Manchester United and Tottenham Hotspur have also expressed interest in signing the centre-back.

United came close to making a move for Todibo last summer but couldn’t pull it off after they failed to sell Harry Maguire, which has given Chelsea an advantage in plotting a move for him. However, it may be next summer, as Romano told us, because so far the Blues are only scouting, and he told GiveMeSport:

“From what I’m told, Chelsea have been involved in some scouting activity, but they didn’t start any negotiations with the player’s camp or Nice.”

“They know that the player is probably not for sale in the January transfer window. Nice would only sell Todibo for a very important amount of money, not €35 million or €40 million, as reported in the media.”

€35 million or €40 million is a steal, and if Chelsea don’t make a move for him in January, then we could miss out on his signing because Sir Jim Ratcliffe’s arrival will inject more money into Manchester United, while Spurs are unlikely to make a move after they signed Radu Dragusin.

This might be a major take-home for us, but only if the Blues sell players as they are considering selling academy players Armando Broja and Conor Gallagher. Another issue, though, is whether or not he will see playing time with our existing depth at the back even if we are successful in signing him.

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• Armando Broja becomes latest academy player Chelsea prepared to sell in January
• Chelsea set to face another approach from Liverpool for Levi Colwill

Chelsea should make a big push for the Frenchman if teams do not make a bid for him, as he would be a perfect solution for the Brazilian centre-defender.