According to a recent report by Sport (translated by Sport Witness), Everton have already tabled an offer of €22m plus bonuses for Barcelona centre-back Jean-Clair Todibo, who is playing on loan with Schalke this summer. The same source has also mentioned that the Catalan giants are hoping ‘to get a greater economic return’ for their prized asset as the Toffees maintain their interest in recruiting him in the upcoming transfer window.
Todibo’s Impressive Loan Spell In Germany This Year
The French defender is enjoying an impressive loan spell in the Bundesliga after producing a run of solid displays at the heart of David Wagner’s defence. The Cayenne-born talent is primarily a centre-back who can also fill in as a defensive midfielder if required. He has made ten appearances for the German outfit this term, picking up two yellow cards in the process across all competitions.
Todibo has averaged 1.9 tackles, 1.9 interceptions and 2.6 clearances per game in the German top-flight. He has also been quite tidy with his ball-distribution as evidenced by his pass completion rate of 84.8% in league football (stats via whoscored).
The 20-year-old has represented France at the Under-20 level, having featured in five matches for them thus far. If Todibo can show some signs of progress in the coming seasons, then he should have a decent shot of earning a few senior caps for his nation someday.
What Will The French Defensive Ace Bring To The Table?
Standing at 1.90m tall, Todibo can be a commanding presence at the back as he can dominate his penalty box with authority and conviction. He can use his incredible upper-body strength to overpower the opposition in the air. The French youngster has proven his worth as a tough-tackling centre-back during his loan spell at the VELTINS-Arena. As mentioned earlier, he is also a good ball-distributor and tends to keep himself composed when in possession of the ball. However, Todibo still has a long way to go before he is ready to win trophies at the highest level.
Is Todibo A Decent Fit For The Merseyside Outfit?
Recruiting a defender of Todibo’s potential and defensive prowess will undoubtedly be a shrewd piece of business for the Toffees if they can pull off the transfer this summer. He will not only add more stability and quality to Carlo Ancelotti’s defence but also improve the overall depth of his squad at Goodison Park.
Plus, the French whizkid will provide some healthy competition for Michael Keane, Mason Holgate and Yerry Mina at Merseyside next season. He could serve as a perfect emergency replacement for Mina, who has been plagued with injuries over the past few seasons. With all things considered, Todibo will be a decent fit for Ancelotti as he has what it takes to help his side compete for major trophies in the years to come.
