West Ham launched a new bid for Nice defender Jean-Clair Todibo this week in the hope of killing off interest from Juventus.
Will he come or will he go, that’s the big question when it comes to West Ham target Jean-Clair Todibo.
West Ham have effectively been the frontrunners for the Frenchman since having a bid accepted by Nice weeks ago.
But the 24-year-old put the Hammers on hold while he waited to see if a move to Juventus materialised.
The Italian giants do want the former Barcelona flop.
However, Juve have serious financial issues which dictate they must sell a host of players to raise funds.
Thus far Juve have failed to match West Ham’s offer for Todibo.
Hammers turn the screw on Juve with new Todibo bid
So the centre-back Julen Lopetegui wants to partner Max Kilman remains in a self-imposed limbo.
Never one to miss an opportunity to turn the screw, technical director Tim Steidten is trying to use the situation to West Ham’s advantage.
The Hammers have made a new and improved bid for Todibo.
The new offer is said to be around £29m – £4m more than the original bid Nice accepted.
The rationale? To push the deal even further from Juventus’ reach.
And it seems, if a new claim is to be believed, that it may do the trick.
Because West Ham got a Nice message to wake up to after the new Todibo move.
West Ham get Nice message to wake up to over Todibo
West Ham confirmed a renewed push for Todibo speaking exclusively to Hammers News.
Now Italian journalist Romeo Agresti has confirmed that Nice – unsurprisingly – very much want Todibo to join West Ham after the latest offer.
And the Ligue 1 side are leaning on the player to forget about Juve and sign for the Hammers.
Speaking on his YouTube channel, Agresti says Nice want Todibo to think about the club and give priority to West Ham.
Now it remains to be seen whether Todibo listens to the Nice hierarchy.
The context is crucial here for West Ham as it is not just about money.
Nice owners INEOS, led by Sir Jim Ratcliffe, are also co-owners of Manchester United.
By Sir Jim Ratcliffe’s own admission the Red Devils have been blocked from signing Todibo themselves by UEFA this summer.
That was what sparked West Ham’s move for the talented centre-back in the first place.
Will Nice pressure on star help Hammers?
What is also important is that Todibo has never stated he does not want to join West Ham.
Only that he would ‘prefer’ Juve – one of the biggest clubs in the world.
Should Todibo perform a major U-turn and green light a move to the London Stadium, it is also imperative West Ham fans accept what is likely to be the underlying situation.
Besides the extra money, Nice would be keen for Todibo to join West Ham because it would then remove the obstacle preventing Man United from acquiring him at a later date.
Any sale to the Hammers would likely include a private gentleman’s agreement to that end at a set price.
Or at least giving Man United first option should Todibo adapt to the Premier League.
An intriguing situation. And one in which West Ham are starting to turn up the heat as the new season edges ever closer.
READ ALSO
West Ham will be furious with Man United after Wan-Bissaka green light
Striker makes choice as Milan launch bid to hijack West Ham move
Board source shares what West Ham are actually paying for Summerville
Receive a digest of our best West Ham content each week direct to your mailbox
