Fabrizio Romano reveals Man Utd's next big signing

Stuart Telford

• 29 Sept 2023 20:51 BST
• 3 min read

Transfer specialist Fabrizio Romano has revealed that Manchester United want to bring an 'important' centre-back to the club, with Jean-Clair Todibo at the top of their list.

United were linked with Todibo in the summer transfer window, but with transfer budget already spent on Mason Mount, Andre Onana and Rasmus Hojlund, they were unable to complete a deal.

The Red Devils had to sell players before they bought any more due to FFP regulations, and they were optimistic of offloading Harry Maguire to West Ham for £30 million before the player baulked at the reduction in his wages.

READ: Why Harry Maguire’s West Ham move collapsed

With Maguire out of favour and Lisandro Martinez now injured, United have been playing the 35-year-old Jonny Evans at centre-back of late. It is an area of the team Erik ten Hag and Co. want to address.

Todibo top of the list?

"[Manchester United] thought of two players in particular: Benjamin Pavard was one of the targets, then he joined Inter; and Jean-Clair Todibo, the Nice centre-back who is having a very good season, also this year in France," Romano told his official YouTube channel.

"[These] two centre-backs were in the shortlist of Man Utd then the Harry Maguire deal collapsed and this is why nothing happened in that position. But Man Utd were thinking of a new centre-back and that idea remains - bringing in a new centre-back in 2024.

READ: Man Utd: Tobido a Maguire upgrade in EVERY sense

Romano goes on to say that Bayer Leverkusen's Edmond Tabsoba and Anonio Silva of Benfica are also of interest to the club, but it would appear that Todibo is still top of their shopping list.

Todibo could yet be reunited with Nice owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe in 2024, with reports that the British billionaire, once the UK's richest man, is ready to restructure his offer to the Glazer family for ownership of Man Utd.