According to Mundo Deportivo, Jean-Clair Todibo is still facing an uncertain future at Barcelona. The Spanish giants are yet to decide on whether or not they should sell the defender, primarily due to the arrival of Ronald Koeman as the new head coach. Todibo is believed to be valued around €25 million, with Everton and Leicester City interested in his services.
The aftermath of the 8-2 defeat
Tension in Barcelona’s defensive camp is brewing following the 8-2 defeat at the hands of European champions Bayern Munich this month. The club’s long-serving defender, Gerard Pique, promptly said after the defeat that he would be willing to leave Camp Nou should Barca decide to undergo a squad overhaul.
Pique is thus facing an uncertain future at the club. The same can be said for Samuel Umtiti, who is actively looking for a new club following a disastrous couple of years at Nou Camp. The Frenchman has been courted by quite a lot of clubs across Europe, including Arsenal.
Clement Lenglet is the only non-transferable central defender in the Barcelona camp, it seems. The ex-Sevilla star has enjoyed immense success alongside Pique and will be the face of the Barca defence going forward.
The Eric Garcia poker
Given the state of the Barcelona defence, it is needless to point out that they must sign a new central defender this summer. One such player heavily linked with a move to Catalonia is Eric Garcia.
The Manchester City defender, who is a graduate of the famed La Masia academy, is keen on rejoining Barcelona this summer. However, there is an apparent discrepancy regarding the transfer fee, with the Blaugrana unwilling to meet the asking price of the English team.
It makes sense given the fact that Garcia has only one year left on his contract and has his heart on a return to Barcelona. The likely scenario, therefore, is that the club would wait till January to sign the Spaniard on a Bosman.
Alternatively, Barcelona can also sign him in January for a lower fee, although that depends on Manchester City’s decision.
Why Barcelona must keep hold of Todibo
What makes Todibo a fascinating option for Koeman is that he is among the most experienced of the young defenders available at his disposal. He has played half a season in Ligue 1 while spending the second half of the 2019/20 Bundesliga campaign with FC Schalke.
Although the Frenchman had faded away following a promising start to his loan spell at Gelsenkirchen, he is undoubtedly in a better position to make a breakthrough at Barcelona, when compared to his teammate, Ronald Araujo.
Meanwhile, with Umtiti and Pique facing uncertain futures at Barcelona and the club having trouble signing Garcia, keeping hold of a talented defender like Todibo would make sense.
It is time for the Catalan giants to get back to old ways and start experimenting with young, inexperienced individuals rather than spending big on established superstars, as the club looks to restore its lost glory under Koeman.
