The Nice star is also admired at Chelsea (Picture: Getty)
Manchester United are weighing up a January move for Nice defender Jean-Clair Todibo.
Erik ten Hag’s backline has been decimated by injury this season with Lisandro Martinez sidelined until after Christmas having undergone foot surgery for the second time this year.
Raphael Varane has fallen out of favour with Harry Maguire establishing himself in the starting XI once again with Jonny Evans his preferred partner at centre-half. The veteran Northern Ireland international is also sidelined having limped off in the defeat to FC Copenhagen last week.
United were eager to bring in another centre-half during the summer transfer window with Todibo among the players they were interested in signing.
The France international however was reluctant to make a move, fearing he ‘didn’t want to make the wrong choice’ having re-established himself back in France after a disappointing spell at Barcelona.
The Sun report a move for Todibo is being discussed at Old Trafford ahead of the January window.
Sir Jim Ratcliffe, who is poised to secure a minority stake to acquire 25 per cent of the Old Trafford club, owns Todibo’s current side Nice and his involvement could aid the deal should United push on in the coming months.
Ratcliffe’s owns Todibo’s current club Nice (Picture: Getty)
Chelsea have also been credited with interest in the 23-year-old, viewing him as a potential long-term successor to Thiago Silva.
In the summer, Todibo was identified as a replacement for Maguire who looked set to leave Manchester having been stripped of the club captaincy by ten Hag.
The England international held talks over a move to West Ham but the clubs failed to agree a deal for the former Leicester City star.
Todibo meanwhile later explained he was not keen to leave the Ligue 1 side at that point.
‘It’s very clear the club [Nice] would not have sold me this summer,’ Todibo, who has a contract until 2027, told L’Equipe.
‘I have given it [the links to United] in-depth thought and I remained calm. I didn’t want to make the wrong choice.
‘I expect to be presented with the full picture. What are you expecting from me? Why am I signing? You shouldn’t arrive at a club asking yourself this. I know what I have in Nice, so why leave? Everything must be clear.’
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Sir Jim Ratcliffe’s presence could be key in getting the deal done.