Spurs are desperately short on options at the back (Pictures: Getty Images)
Tottenham have added Nice defender Jean-Clair Todibo to their list of centre-back targets and are prepared to battle Manchester United for him, according to reports.
The north Londoners have been hit by a selection crisis at the back in recent weeks, with Micky van de Ven sidelined with a hamstring injury until the new year and Cristian Romero handed a three-match suspension.
Manager Ange Postecoglou was forced to field a back-line made up entirely of full-backs against Aston Villa at the weekend, as the side slumped to a third straight loss despite a spirted display.
The only other senior centre-back at Postecoglou’s disposal is Eric Dier, but he is out of contract in the summer and has frequently been left out of the matchday squad altogether.
Tottenham tried to bring in another central defender in the summer but could not strike an agreement with Bayer Leverkusen for Edmond Tapsoba, while they moved too late to convince Bournemouth into selling Lloyd Kelly.
Spurs will look to address their limited defensive options when the transfer window reopens and, according to The Evening Standard, are now looking at Nice star Todibo.
The France international is enjoying an excellent campaign, picking up another clean sheet in Sunday’s 1-0 win over Toulouse – a result that maintains their unbeaten start to the season, with the side just one point adrift of PSG in second place in Ligue 1.
Todibo is enjoying an excellent campaign for Nice (Picture: Getty)
Todibo, who has resurrected his career back in France after a disappointing period at Barcelona, has a number of suitors and is a long-time target of Manchester United – who remain interested now amid doubts over Raphael Varane’s future.
The Red Devils had wanted to offload axed skipper Harry Maguire in the summer and bring in a new, younger centre-back better equipped to play out from the back in United’s high line.
Todibo was viewed as an ideal signing, but the inability to shift Maguire – who rejected a move to West Ham – meant Erik ten Hag had to stick with his existing options.
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Liverpool have also been credited with interest in Todibo and Nice could consider selling the 23-year-old if they receive an offer in the region of £39million.
He is not the only centre-back Spurs are looking at, with the north Londoners keen to re-explore a deal for contract rebel Kelly – though a hamstring injury picked up at the weekend may prompt a rethink.
New Spurs sporting director Johan Lange is in charge of drawing up a shortlist of centre-back targets and both Crystal Palace’s Marc Guehi and Everton’s Jarrad Branthwaite could be alternative options to Todibo.
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Spurs are desperately short on options at the back.