West Ham United are ramping up their pursuit of French defender Jean-Clair Todibo, according to Foot Mercato, with the conclusion of Euro 2024 potentially accelerating a transfer.
West Ham faces stiff competition for Todibo’s signature, with Aston Villa and another English club joining the fray alongside interest from continental teams.
The report suggests the end of the European Championships and the start of pre-season training could trigger a quicker pace of negotiations for Todibo’s transfer.
A transfer away from Nice seems likely for Todibo, with the club needing to sell to facilitate his pre-season preparations with his new team. However, they expect a hefty fee.
Manager Julen Lopetegui seeks to solidify West Ham’s defence before the season kicks off, especially for their opening Premier League clash against Aston Villa. Max Kilman offers a left-sided centre-back option, with Todibo potentially his partner.
There are also rumours of a player-swap deal involving current West Ham captain Kurt Zouma moving to Nice for Todibo.
The post-Euro 2024 period could see a flurry of transfer activity. West Ham needs to navigate a competitive market and potentially address Todibo’s desire for European football to secure him. However, if playing in continental competition year upon year is crucial to signing the the player, there is little the Hammers can do about it.