A new boardroom leak claims Manchester United target Jean-Clair Todibo is about to make a stunning demand to West Ham’s owners.
West Ham and Man United are both facing PSR restrictions this summer.
As a result Ruben Amorim and Graham Potter must sell a number of players to raise funds for signings.
David Sullivan and the West Ham board have made that perfectly clear as has INEOS chief and Red Devils co-owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe.
One of the players Manchester United are allegedly trying to raise money for is West Ham star Jean-Clair Todibo.
The French defender was arguably West Ham’s standout signing of a £155m spend last summer.
But the Hammers were only able to get Todibo because UEFA blocked Man United from signing him due to INEOS’ involvement with them and Nice.
Was Todibo always being “parked” at West Ham?
Ratcliffe did not name Todibo directly, but confirmed at the time Man United cannot buy directly from Nice due to the ownership situation.
West Ham seized the opportunity and pounced for the 25-year-old, beating Juventus to his signature by agreeing a season-long loan with an obligation to buy for £32m.
That was triggered as soon as Todibo made five Premier League starts – on the proviso West Ham were not relegated.
Man United have been the elephant in the room of that deal ever since, though.
Logic says INEOS-owned Nice would only sell Todibo to West Ham if they had some sort of informal gentleman’s agreement that Man United could sign him for a set price down the line.
That is one way to bypass UEFA’s strict multi-club ownership rules around transfers.
Todibo has had a strange debut season at West Ham.
He has looked like an elite centre-back at times but has struggled with fitness, barely completing 90 minutes in any matches, and fell out with former manager Julen Lopetegui.
It was even claimed Todibo was going to demand to leave if Lopetegui was not sacked.
There have also been claims Todibo regrets signing for West Ham.
Fresh speculation emerged Todibo could join Man United this summer around three weeks ago.
Todibo to make stunning demand to West Ham owners
Now Man United target Todibo is set to make a stunning demand to the West Ham owners says a new board leak.
West Ham are planning to try and raise over £100m in player sales this summer to fund Potter’s rebuild.
The likes of Mohammed Kudus and Lucas Paqueta – if he is cleared of spot-fixing – are expected to be part of that fund-raising drive as two of the club’s most saleable assets.
But that in itself is going to give the Hammers another headache – and it is great news for Man United.
Claret and Hugh count West Ham chief Sullivan among their contacts.
Todibo wants out if star duo are sold says West Ham leak
They put it to their top source inside the club, whether Todibo will be one of West Ham’s untouchables amid their financial struggles this summer.
And the response will almost certainly catch the attention of Manchester United’s owners.
Because not only does the senior West Ham source say Todibo is considered untouchable this summer.
The club are even bracing themselves for the defender demanding to leave if and when they sell Paqueta and Kudus.
“I wouldn’t be so certain about that (Todibo being untouchable),” the source is quoted as saying.
“If Lucas Paqueta and Mohammed Kudus leave in the summer, it’s likely Todibo would want out too.”
Tim Steidten flew out to Nice to help West Ham win the race for Todibo last summer.
And the defender has made it clear since that the vision and project Steidten presented to him sold the move to east London.
That has clearly completely changed since.
Steidten and Julen Lopetegui have both been sacked, West Ham are 17th in the table with no European football again next season.
And PSR means star names have to be sold.
So it may be that Todibo feels the goalposts have been moved and wants out.
If that is the case, Potter has made it clear he only wants players who want to play for West Ham and getting the top price possible out of Manchester United could be the best for all parties.
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