Chelsea remain interested in Nice defender Jean-Clair Todibo, but a move this month seems unlikely.
Jean-Clair Todibo has been linked with a move to Chelsea, with talkSPORT reporter Alex Crook recently claiming that the Blues are in the picture to sign the 24-year-old.
And now, according to Telefoot, Chelsea have been in contact with Todibo’s entourage.
However, they also claim that Nice want to keep hold of the centre-back until the summer, meaning he will not be leaving the club during this transfer window.
Journalist Ben Jacobs claimed at the start of the month that Nice value Todibo at around €60m (£51m).
Photo by LOIC VENANCE/AFP via Getty ImagesChelsea have contacted Jean-Clair Todibo’s entourage
Maybe Chelsea will be unable to sign Todibo this month because of Nice’s reluctance to sell.
However, by speaking to the player’s people, the Blues can perhaps set something up for the summer. And all things considered, Mauricio Pochettino can probably survive without a new centre-half for the time being.
He is not lacking options, with the Argentine currently having the likes of Thiago Silva and Axel Disasi at his disposal.
The former is out of contract at the end of the season, so Chelsea may very well have to sign Todibo or another central defender.
For now, though, Silva is a player who Pochettino can use and trust. The 39-year-old has only missed one Premier League game this season, a 2-0 defeat against Everton at Goodison Park, and continues to perform.
As per the Premier League’s official website, Silva has made 91 clearances in the current campaign, the fourth most in the division.
Really, then, with the Brazil international still going strong, Chelsea should be looking to keep hold of him. However, there now seems to be a real possibility of Silva leaving the club in the summer with Todibo potentially coming in to replace him.