With six days until the transfer window closers there has been as much speculation about Jean-Clair Todibo’s future as there has been West Ham making signings.
Jean-Clair Todibo won’t be seen in a West Ham shirt until around March.
He has been out since the 4-1 defeat at Man City and will remain sidelined for another four to six weeks.
But the big question right now whether he will ever be seen in the claret and blue again.
Todibo has shown class in flashes since arriving at West Ham on loan with an obligation to buy from Nice.
It is fair to say he has blown hot and cold with his performance levels, looking potentially elite in some games and distinctly average in others.
The bust-up with Julen Lopetegui – which is alleged to have become physical during half-time of the 5-2 defeat to Arsenal at the end of November – is also a black mark against Todibo’s name.
The 24-year-old has been injury-prone since arriving in east London.
So when rumours emerged West Ham might be willing to ship him out this month, it was not the most outlandish claim to believe.
Especially after West Ham majority owner David Sullivan admitted the commitment to sign Todibo for £32m was ‘hurting’ the club.
The obligation clause was triggered after five Premier League starts – so long as West Ham stay in the Premier League, which clearly won’t be an issue.
Todibo’s strange spell in east London has been summed up by speculation surrounding his Hammers future in the last week.
Speculation rife over Todibo’s West Ham future
First Claret and Hugh claimed Todibo was ‘gutted’ to be missing out on working with Graham Potter.
The report stated the Frenchman feels ‘liberated’ now Lopetegui has been sacked.
Then The Athletic reported Marseille had approached West Ham about signing Todibo.
He reportedly informed his representatives he is happy at West Ham and has no interest in leaving.
Todibo feels settled in east London and wants to repay the faith shown in him by West Ham according to that article.
As well as Marseille, Juventus have also reignited their interest in Todibo.
It’s been claimed West Ham are open to doing a deal that would see another club taking over the loan and their obligation to buy him in the summer.
In direct contrast to previous claims, it’s being said Todibo does actually want out of West Ham by Monday’s deadline.
It perhaps hasn’t helped matters that Todibo was spotted watching Marseille against Nice when his teammates were playing at Villa.
That has been followed by fresh reporting on his situation.
Now the West Ham board have responded as a France star urges Todibo to leave the club.
West Ham board respond as France star urges Todibo to leave
Khephren Thuram, son of France great Lilian, knows Todibo from their time together at Nice and in the French setup.
According to Alfredo Pedulla and Get Football News Italy, Thuram is ‘making efforts to bring Todibo to Juventus’.
It is claimed the pair are in dialogue and that the Hammers defender is ‘interested in a switch’.
The reports state the ‘avenue is still open for Juve’ but that it ‘depends on West Ham’.
Well now the Hammers have responded to the claims.
Senior club sources have told Sean Whetstone that Todibo is going nowhere and is very much part of Potter’s plans.
The West Ham source says Todibo is ‘not available for loan or sale and remains very much in Graham Potter’s plans when fit’.
“Reports from Italy have picked up place regarding a deal between Juventus and West Ham for Todibo who remains injured,” Whetstone said.
“West Ham have already triggered an obligation to buy this summer after five appearances with relegation being the only clause that would prevent that sale now.”
Signing Todibo was seen as the jewel in the crown of a magnificent summer window for West Ham.
Landing the former Barcelona man was one of the most exciting days of recent times at the club.
The Hammers had finally gone out and spent proper money on two top centre-backs in Max Kilman and Todibo.
But things simply haven’t worked out as yet. West Ham will be hoping Potter can change all that when he finally has both players available alongside one another.
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