West Ham United is on the brink of outmaneuvering Juventus in the pursuit of highly sought-after OGC Nice centre-back Jean-Clair Todibo.
As reported by Fabrizio Romano, West Ham’s technical director, Tim Steidten, has traveled to France to finalize the transfer.
Juventus had previously been considered the favorites to sign the French international, but West Ham is now poised to swoop in and secure the deal.
The Hammers have reached an agreement with Nice, offering around £34 million plus a sell-on clause.
They are eager to finalize the transfer quickly to prevent any last-minute complications.
If all goes according to plan, Todibo will become West Ham’s seventh signing of the summer transfer window, with the club aiming to arrange his medical examination later today.
Last season, Todibo was a crucial player for Nice, helping the Ligue 1 club secure a spot in the Europa League.
He had also attracted interest from Manchester United, but the Premier League club was unable to finalize a deal due to UEFA’s rules on multi-club ownership.
With Manchester United out of the running, other top European clubs, including Juventus, entered the race for Todibo, and it appeared likely he would join the Italian giants.
Juventus had been keen on signing Todibo as part of Thiago Motta’s plans to revamp the squad, and the player himself was inclined toward the move, despite interest from the Premier League.
However, West Ham revived their interest in Todibo after Kurt Zouma’s imminent transfer to the Middle East created a defensive void.
With Juventus’ pursuit of Todibo now faltering, West Ham is determined to finalize the deal, potentially as soon as this weekend.
As Zouma edges closer to leaving, West Ham manager Julen Lopetegui faces a looming defensive crisis with just a week remaining before the Premier League season begins.
The Hammers are set to face Celta Vigo on Saturday in their final pre-season match before opening their Premier League campaign at home against Aston Villa.
