Player’s ‘return to France’ opportunity won’t wash for West Ham – here’s why

Whether the opening of the transfer window next week will see a trickle or a flood of West Ham departures depends on the reports you read: Some suggest half a dozen, some suggest double that total.

One thing is for certain, West Ham United have already released veteran Lucas Fabianski and winger Adama Traore.

Nuno’s favourite along with fan favourite Fabianski have both had ‘time’ called on their West Ham careers according to the whufc.com web site today.

Defender Jean Clair Todibo is on most fans’ list for ‘probable departure‘ this summer, after his very public falling out with Nuno following his substitution against Newcastle – and responding in typical Todibo fashion.

The defender refused to acknowledge his manager and vowed never to play for the Hammers again. Which makes it three West Ham managers in short succession with whom Todibo has apparently been at odds.

Consequently West Ham will almost certainly be wanting to sell the defender and recoup as much of their £37 – odd-million outlay from just twelve months ago. Unlikely a loan will cut it for the accountants, who are on the lookout for over a hundred million to pay down West Ham’s debts.

However, finding a buying club for a player whose career shouts ‘attitude problem’ since failing to make the grade at the Nou Camp might be something of a challenge. A return to France is suggested by insidefutbol.com:

Tobido fell out with West Ham boss Nuno Espirito Santo towards the end of the campaign and is suggested to have made clear he does not want to pay for the Portuguese again.

However, according to French outlet Top Mercato, such a move ‘hinges on West Ham agreeing to a loan deal’ with Marseille, as well as the player agreeing to the move. Lyon, Lille and Lens could also be potential destinations for Todibo if he wishes to return to France.

The defender’s move to West Ham has not worked, with his France ambitions also thwarted, and the man who was snapped up by Barcelona as a hot prospect is likely to have his eyes firmly fixed on the exit door.”

However much Todibo wants to escape he’ll likely have to wait for a decent offer to buy outright: West Ham have already lost money with subsidised loan arrangements for Ward Prowse, Fullkrug and Cornet, so the prospect of a similar, costly short term loan for Todibo will not remotely interest the football club who are approaching this summer window with a deadly serious need to raise cash.

The defender had better get his agents fired up to find a club willing to stump up about £30 million or he’ll likely be stuck in England, loaned out by Nuno but on a reduced salary which he’ll have to take on the chin if he sticks to his ‘never again’ vow.